Volodymyr

Ukrainian variation of Vladimir, Slavic

"great ruler, peaceful ruler, ruler of the world"

Volodymyr Origin and Meaning

The name Volodymyr is a boy's name meaning "great ruler, peaceful ruler, ruler of the world".

Volodymyr, once a name unknown to most Americans, is now on everyone's lips due to the war between Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy bears a common Ukrainian name for his generation. Currently in Ukraine, the most popular baby names for boys are Maksym (Максим), Ivan (Іван), and Matviy (Матвій). The more fashionable Vlad- name for babies is Vladyslav, although President Zelenskyy may soon be a namesake for an influx of infants named in honor of his heroism.

Variations of this name exist all over Europe, with the Slavic Vladimir as the most familiar. Others include Valdemar and Waldemar. They all derive from Slavic roots vladěti, meaning "to rule," and meru, "great," or miru, "peace" or "world."