Ladislava is the Czech and Slovak feminine form of Vladislav. The name derives from the Old Slavic element volděti meaning "to rule" combined with slava meaning "glory," thus signifying "ruling with glory" or "glorious ruler." Etymology and HistoryThe masculine base Vladislav has a long history among Slavic nobility, being borne by kings, princes, and dukes of Croatia, Serbia, Bohemia, Poland, and Wallachia. The name spread across Central and Eastern Europe, and its feminine counterpart Ladislava (along with variants like Vladislava) emerged in Czech and Slovak usage. Folk etymology sometimes links the name with the Slavic goddess Lada, though this connection is not linguistically supported.Variants and FormsLadislava has several related forms across Slavic languages. A common Czech variant is Vladislava. The diminutive Lada is used in both Czech and Russian. In Polish, the equivalent is Władysława, while Russian uses Vladislava, and Ukrainian offers Vlada and Vladyslava. The masculine form Ladislav appears in Slovak alongside Vladislav.Notable Bearers and Cultural SignificanceAlthough Ladislava is less common than its masculine counterpart, it appears in historical and modern contexts, particularly in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The masculine name Ladislav has been borne by numerous athletes (e.g., ice hockey player Ladislav Kohn) and figures across Eastern Europe, but the feminine form remains distinctive.Meaning: "glorious ruler" (from Slavic elements volděti "to rule" and slava "glory")Origin: Czech, Slovak (feminine of Vladislav)Usage regions: Czech Republic, SlovakiaType: Feminine first name