Fun Facts About the Name Vlad
- 543 babies named Vlad: U.S. records list 543 babies given the name Vlad from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Vlad Mean?
Vlad is a male name of Slavic origin. It is a short form of compound Slavic names that begin with the element Vlad-, especially Vladimir and Vladislav. That element comes from the Slavic root vlad- (also volod-), meaning "to rule" or "to have power." In Old Church Slavonic, the verb vladěti means "to rule" or "to have power," and the related noun vlastь means "power" or "authority." As a standalone given name, Vlad keeps the sense "rule" or "dominion" rather than the fuller meaning of any one compound name. In Romanian, Vlad is used as an independent given name, not only as a nickname; in Russian and some other Slavic languages, it commonly serves as a short form of Vladislav or Vladimir.
Vlad Name History & Origins
Compound names beginning with Vlad- were formed in the medieval Slavic-speaking world. Vladimir was borne by early East Slavic rulers, including Saint Vladimir of Kiev (died 1015), whose conversion to Christianity is traditionally dated to 988. Vladislav was used by rulers and nobles in Czech, Polish, and South Slavic lands. From such compound names, the short form Vlad developed as a familiar name. In East Slavic usage, the same root often appears as Volod-, as in Ukrainian Volodymyr; South Slavic and Romanian usage generally has Vlad-.
In the Romanian lands, Vlad became an established given name. Several rulers of Wallachia bore it, including Vlad II Dracul in the 15th century and his son Vlad III, known as Vlad Țepeș ("Vlad the Impaler"), who reigned in the same century. The later fictional name Dracula is linked to the epithet Dracul ("the Dragon" or "the Devil") rather than to the given name Vlad; the historical Vlad III and Bram Stoker's Count Dracula are separate figures. The name Vlad has remained in use in Romania, Moldova, and Slavic-speaking countries, both as a full name and as a short form.
How Popular is the Name Vlad?
Vlad has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2004. Its best rank was #3,629 in 2004.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5,837 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2024 | #6,780 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2023 | #7,266 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2022 | #5,844 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2021 | #4,486 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2020 | #5,682 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2019 | #6,385 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2018 | #4,727 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 2017 | #5,281 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2016 | #4,087 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2015 | #5,046 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2014 | #4,126 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 2013 | #4,454 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2012 | #4,238 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2011 | #4,970 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2010 | #4,229 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2009 | #4,910 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 2008 | #4,701 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 2007 | #4,798 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 2006 | #4,362 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 2005 | #4,190 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 2004 | #3,629 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 2003 | #4,413 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2002 | #4,317 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2001 | #4,880 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2000 | #5,287 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1999 | #7,849 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1997 | #4,656 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1996 | #7,932 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1995 | #7,765 | 7 | 0.0004% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Vlad Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are fixed in your opinions, firm in your friendships and square in your dealings with others. You are an excellent worker. Since you are both possessive and emotional, you can be either very practical or very impractical and unpredictable. Your dual nature needs to become steadfast. You are the marrying kind. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Vlad's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Vlad's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.