Vlatka

Vlatka is a Croatian name, the diminutive of Vladimira (the female equivalent of Vladimir). Vladimir is an Old Slavic name meaning “great ruler” or “to rule with greatness,” from the early Slavic elements “volod” (rule) and “mer” (great) – although it is also sometimes associated with the Slavic element “mir” meaning “peace” in which case Vlatka means “peaceful ruler.” Then again, to rule with greatness generally means to rule with peace. The masculine name Vladimir was made most famous in the Slavic World by a 10th/11th ruler of Kievan Rus’, St. Vladimir the Great. St. Vladimir is largely credited with the Christianization of his kingdom through forced baptisms (although his grandmother, St. Olga, laid the foundation). After sending envoys to review all surrounding religions, Vladimir apparently chose Eastern Orthodox Christianity for three primary reasons: 1) Islam was out of the question since they forbade alcohol; 2) Roman Catholicism was out of the question because Vladimir didn’t like the sort of papal control he saw in Poland; and 3) he was impressed with the splendor and majesty of Eastern Orthodox Church services. Sounds like legitimate reasons to us! Not surprisingly, the name spread throughout the medieval Slavic world and the female version soon followed. Vladimir is also notable for a few other Russian men: the communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924), the novelist Vladimir Nabokov (1899-1977) and Russia’s current leader, Vladimir Putin. In Croatia, however, they use the charming equivalents Vlatko (male) and Vlatka (female).