Ukrainian names — pronunciation, meaning, origin

Volodymyr — Pronunciation, Meaning & Origin

Male Ukrainian name (Володимир)

Pronunciation

Pronunciation card for Volodymyr
/wo.loˈdɪ.mɪr/ · vo-lo-DY-myr
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Meaning

Volodymyr (Ukrainian: Володимир) is a male name of Slavic origin meaning «he who rules in peace» or «great in his domain». The combination of power and a peaceful disposition makes it one of the most revered names in the East Slavic tradition.

Origin & History

The name is formed from two Proto-Slavic roots: *voldě- («to rule, have power») and *měrъ («peace, greatness, glory»). It was made famous by Grand Prince Volodymyr the Great of Kyiv (c. 958–1015), who Christianized Kyivan Rus in 988 and was later canonized as one of the foremost saints of Eastern Christianity. Numerous princes, statesmen, and church figures have borne the name since. The native Ukrainian form Volodymyr, with stem vowel -o- (distinct from the Russian Vladimir), has remained among the most popular male names in 20th–21st-century Ukraine.

Etymology & Roots

Roots: Proto-Slavic *voldě- («to rule») + *měrъ («peace, greatness»); composite sense «he who rules in peace» or «great in his rule».

International equivalents

Equivalents in other languages: Vladimir (Russian, Serbian, Slovene, Croatian, Bulgarian, Macedonian), Vladimír (Czech, Slovak), Włodzimierz (Polish), Uladzimir (Belarusian), Vladimer / Lado (Georgian), Vladas (Lithuanian).

Diminutives and short forms

Володимирко, Володар, Володась, Володасик, Володик, Володичок, Володенька, Володечка, Володко, Влодко, Вовонька, Вовка, Вовчик, Володька, Лодик, Лодзя, Влодзьо.

Declension (Ukrainian)

NominativeВолодимир
GenitiveВолодимира
DativeВолодимирові
AccusativeВолодимира
InstrumentalВолодимиром
LocativeВолодимирові
VocativeВолодимире

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