Yevdokiya is the Russian and Ukrainian form of the name Eudocia, which is itself derived from the Greek name Eudokia. The name ultimately stems from the Greek words eu meaning "good" and dokeo meaning "to think, to imagine, to suppose", thus conveying the sense of "one who is well pleased" or "of good will." Historically, Eudocia was a name borne by several Byzantine empresses, most notably the wife of Emperor Theodosius II (5th century), who is venerated as a saint in Christianity. This Byzantine pedigree lent the name prestige among Orthodox Christians of Eastern Europe, and it was subsequently adopted into Russian and Ukrainian onomastics as Yevdokiya. Notable Bearers Yevdokiya was the name of two empresses consort of Russia: Yevdokiya Lopukhina, first wife of Peter the Great, and Yevdokiya Belyakova, albeit the latter is less known. The name also appears in popular culture, most prominently as the title character in the 1961 Soviet film Yevdokiya, directed by Tatyana Lioznova. The film portrays the life of a strong-willed woman named Yevdokiya living in a provincial town, embodying the resilience often associated with the name. Related Forms In Russian, the name has a colloquial variant, Avdotya, and a diminutive form, Dunya 1. Other related forms across Slavic languages include Bulgarian Evdokiya, Macedonian Evdokija, and the ultimate Greek origin Evdokia. Meaning: "good will, well pleased" Origin: Greek, via Byzantine Type: First name Usage regions: Russia, Ukraine