Balaban (also Ballaban, Ballabon) is a surname, from a Turkic word meaning "robust", "burly", or a Ukrainian word meaning "hawk". Notable people with the surname include:
Alexandru Balaban (1931-), Romanian chemistAlper Balaban (1987-2010), Turkish footballerA. J. Balaban, (1889-1962), co-founder of Balaban and KatzBarney Balaban, (1887-1971), co-founder of Balaban and KatzBob Balaban (1945-), American actor and director (related to the founders of Balaban and Katz)Boško Balaban (1978-), Croatian footballerİbrahim Balaban (born 1921), Turkish painterJohn Balaban, American poet and translatorLiane Balaban (1980-), Canadian actressMeir Balaban (1874-1941), Polish Jewish historianNina Balaban (1995-), Macedonian sports shooterJan Balabán, Czech writer