Ludmila or Ludmilla is a female

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a fa ...

of Slavic origin. It consists of two elements: ''lud'' ("people") and ''mila'' ("dear, love"). Because the initial L is mostly soft ( palatalized), it is sometimes also transcribed Lyudmila, Lyudmyla or Ljudmila, and is written as Ľudmila or Ľudmyla in Slovak. Other variants include: Людмила, (Bulgarian, Russian and Ukrainian), Людміла (Belarusian), Људмила (Macedonian and Serbian), Ludomiła, Ludmiła, Ludzimiła, Ludźmiła (Polish), and Ludmilla (Hungarian). Nicknames in Russian are: Люда (Lyuda), Люся (Lyusya), Мила ( Mila) The most notable bearer is

Ludmila of Bohemia Ludmila of Bohemia (c. 860 – 15 September 921) is a Czech saint and martyr venerated by the Orthodox and the Roman Catholics. She was born in Mělník as the daughter of the Sorbian prince Slavibor. Saint Ludmila was the grandmother ...

, a 10th-century princess and the grandmother of Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia. The feast day for the saint is September 16, which is celebrated as a

name day In Christianity, a name day is a tradition in many countries of Europe and the Americas, among other parts of Christendom. It consists of celebrating a day of the year that is associated with one's baptismal name, which is normatively that of a ...

in Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Other name days include September 17 (Hungary), and February 20, May 7, July 30, and October 26 (Poland). People with the given name Ludmila or variants include:

Medieval and early modern eras

:''In chronological order'' *

(c. 860–921), Czech Orthodox and Roman Catholic saint and martyr *

Ludmila (wife of Mieszko I Tanglefoot) Ludmila (d. October 20 after 1210) was the wife of Mieszko IV Tanglefoot. Her origins are disputed. Mieszko IV Tanglefoot married Ludmila between 1170-1178. Given her name, historians think that Ludmila came from Bohemia, a member of the Přemy ...

(died after 1210), High Duchess of Poland *

Ludmilla of Bohemia Ludmilla (Ludmiła) of Bohemia (died 14 August 1240) was a daughter of Frederick, Duke of Bohemia, and his wife, Elizabeth of Hungary. Ludmilla was a member of the Přemyslid dynasty. She was Duchess consort of Bavaria by her marriage to Louis ...

(died 1240), Duchess consort of Bavaria *

Ludmilla Elisabeth of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt Ludmilla Elisabeth of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt (also ''Ludomilla'' or ''Ludämilie''; 7 April 1640 – 12 March 1672 in Rudolstadt) was a German noblewoman and a hymn poet. She was a Countess of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt by birth. Life Ludmil ...

(1640–1672), Countess of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt and hymn poet

Late modern era

:''In alphabetical order'' * Lyudmila Andonova, Bulgarian high jumper *

Ludmilla Assing Rosa Ludmilla Assing (22 February 1821 in Hamburg – 25 March 1880 in Florence) was a German writer, who also wrote under the pseudonyms ''Achim Lothar'' and ''Talora''. Life Ludmilla Assing was the second daughter of author Rosa Maria Varn ...

(1821–1880), German writer * Ludmila Bášová, Czech badminton player *

Ludmila Belousova Ludmila Yevgenyevna Belousova (russian: Людмила Евгеньевна Белоусова; 22 November 1935 – 26 September 2017) was a Soviet and Russian pair skater who represented the Soviet Union. With her partner and husband Oleg Pr ...

, Russian figure skater * Lyudmyla Blonska, Ukrainian heptathlete * Lyudmila Butuzova, Soviet high jumper *

Lyudmila Byakova Lyudmila Stepanovna Byakova (russian: Людмила Степановна Бякова; born 23 March 1946) is a Soviet and Russian seamstress-minder who worked at the Kirovo-Chepetsk garment factory and at the Kurgan Industrial Sewing Associatio ...

, Russian seamstress *

Lyudmila Chernykh Lyudmila Ivanovna Chernykh (russian: Людми́ла Ива́новна Черны́х, June 13, 1935 in Shuya, Ivanovo Oblast – July 28, 2017) was a Russian-born Soviet astronomer, wife and colleague of Nikolai Stepanovich Chernykh, and a ...

, Soviet astronomer *

Ludmilla Chiriaeff Ludmilla Chiriaeff (January 10, 1924 – September 22, 1996) was a Latvian-Canadian ballet dancer, choreographer, teacher, and company director. Biography Ludmilla Alexandrovna Otsup was born in Riga to a Russian-Jewish father Alexandr Otsup ...

(1924–1996), Soviet-born Canadian ballet dancer, choreographer, teacher and company director *

Lyudmyla Denisova Lyudmyla Leontiyivna Denisova; russian: Людмила Леонтьевна Денисова, translit=Lyudmila Leontyevna Denisova Ludmila Engquist Ludmila Viktorovna Engquist (née Leonova (russian: Людмила Викторовна Нарожиленко-Леонова). formerly Narozhilenko; born 21 April 1964) is a Russian-Swedish former athlete, who competed mainly in the 100 metres ...

, Swedish hurdler *

Ludmila Ezhova Ludmila Ezhova Grebenkova ( (Lyudmila Yezhova Grebenkova), born 4 March 1982) is a Russian former competitive gymnast. She won bronze in the team event at the 2004 Summer Olympics and four medals at the World Championships. Career Ezhova was a m ...

, Russian gymnast *

Ludmila Ferber Ludmila Múrias Ferber Lino (8 August 1965 – 26 January 2022) was a Brazilian Christian singer, songwriter, worship pastor and writer. Life and career The singer is the descendant of Russian Jews, Spanish and Portuguese. She became evangeli ...

, Brazilian singer *

Ludmila Formanová Ludmila Formanová () (born 2 January 1974) is a former Czech middle-distance runner who specialized in the 800 metres. She was born in Čáslav. In 1999 she broke Maria de Lurdes Mutola's winning streak at the World Indoor Championships, and w ...

, Czech middle distance runner *

Lyudmila Gurchenko Lyudmila Markovna Gurchenko ( née Gurchenko; russian: link=no, Людмила Марковна Гурченко; 12 November 1935 – 30 March 2011) was a popular Soviet and Russian actress, singer and entertainer. She was given the honorary titl ...

, Russian film actress *

Ludmila Javorová Ludmila Javorová (born 31 January 1932 in Brno) is a Czech Roman Catholic woman who worked in the underground church during the time of communist rule in Czechoslovakia and served as a vicar general of a clandestine bishop. She was one of a n ...

, Czech vicar general *

Ludmila Oliveira da Silva Ludmila Oliveira da Silva (born April 24, 1995), widely known by her stage name Ludmilla (), is a Brazilian singer-songwriter who became known with the song "Fala Mal de Mim" ("She Speaks Ill of Me"). In September 2020, she became the first Bl ...

, Brazilian singer *

Lyudmila Karachkina Lyudmila Georgievna Karachkina (russian: Людмила Георгиевна Карачкина, born 3 September 1948, Rostov-on-Don) is an astronomer and discoverer of minor planets. In 1978 she began as a staff astronomer of the Institute for ...

, Soviet astronomer *

Lyudmila Kolchanova Lyudmila Sergeyevna Kolchanova (russian: Людмила Серге́евна Колчанова) (born October 1, 1979, in Sharya, Kostroma Oblast) is a Russian long jumper. Her personal best jump is 7.21 metres, achieved in May 2007 in Sochi. ...

, Russian long jumper *

Lyudmila Kondratyeva Lyudmila Andreyevna Kondratyeva (russian: Людмила Андреевна Кондратьева; born 11 April 1958) is a Russian former track and field athlete, who competed for the Soviet Union and is the 1980 Olympic 100 m champion. Kondr ...

, Russian athlete * Ludmilla Kunzmann (1774–1843), Czech industrialist * Lyudmyla Lyatetska (1941–2020), Ukrainian paediatrician * Ľudmyla Cervanová, Slovak tennis player * Ľudmyla Melicherová, Slovak long-distance runner * Ľudmyla Pajdušáková, Slovak astronomer *

Ludmilla Pajo Ludmilla Pajo (December 21, 1947 – August 25, 1995) was a Moscow-born Albanian writer and journalist. Life Ludmilla Pajo was born in Moscow, Soviet Union. Her parents (Ramiz Xhabija and Adile Xhabija) were pursuing their studies in Moscow a ...

, Albanian journalist and author *

Lyudmila Pavlichenko Lyudmila Mikhailovna Pavlichenko, (russian: Людми́ла Миха́йловна Павличе́нко; uk, Людмила Михайлівна Павличенко (romanized: Lyudmyla Mykhailivna Pavlychenko), ; 10 October 1974) was a So ...

(1916–1974), Ukrainian Soviet sniper during World War II *

Lyudmila Petrova Lyudmila Nikolayevna Petrova (russian: Людмила Николаевна Петрова; born 7 October 1968) is a Russian long-distance runner, who represented her native country at two Summer Olympics: 1996 and 2004. She won the 2000 edition ...

, Russian long-distance runner * Ludmila Polesná (1934–1988), Czechoslovak world champion slalom canoeist * Lyudmila Poradnyk, Soviet Ukrainian handball player *

Liudmila Privivkova Liudmila Andreyevna Privivkova (russian: Людмила Андреевна Прививкова) (born 13 September 1986 in Moscow; also spelled Ludmila or Liudmilla, but she spells it Liudmila) is a curler ( Skip) from Russia. At the 2006 Wint ...

, Russian curler * Ludmila Prokunina-Olsson (born 1967), Russian medical geneticist * Lyudmyla Pushkina, Ukrainian long-distance runner * Lyudmila Putina, former wife of Vladimir Putin *

Lyudmila Rudenko Lyudmila Vladimirovna Rudenko (russian: Людми́ла Влади́мировна Руде́нко, uk, Людмила Володимирівна Руденко; 27 July 1904 – 4 March 1986) was a Soviet chess player and the second women' ...

(1904–1986), Soviet chess player and second women's world chess champion *

Liudmila Samsonova Liudmila Dmitriyevna Samsonova ( rus, Людмила Дмитриевна Самсонова, , lʲʊdˈmʲiɫə sɐmˈsonəvə; born 11 November 1998) is a Russian tennis player. She also competed for Italy, from 2014 to 2018. Samsonova has a c ...

, Russian tennis player *

Ludmila da Silva Ludmila da Silva (born 1 December 1994), commonly known as Ludmila, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Atlético Madrid of Spain's Primera División and the Brazil women's national team. Club career A high sc ...

, Brazilian footballer * Ludmila Semenyaka, Russian ballerina * Lyudmila Shevtsova, Russian athlete * Lyudmila Stanukinas (1930–2020), Soviet documentary filmmaker *

Ludmilla Tchérina Ludmilla Tchérina (born Monique Tchemerzine; ; 10 October 1924 – 21 March 2004) was a French prima ballerina and actress. Biography Tchérina was born Monique Tchemerzine, into Circassian aristocracy as the daughter of Kabardian Prince Ave ...

(1924–2004), French prima ballerina, sculptor, actress, painter, choreographer and novelist *

Ludmilla Tourischeva Ludmilla Ivanovna Tourischeva (Russian: Людми́ла Ива́новна Тури́щева; also transliterated as Ludmilla Turischeva, Ludmilla Tourischcheva, and Ljudmila Turichtchieva, born 7 October 1952) is a former Russian gymnast, Ukra ...

(born 1952), Russian Olympic and world champion gymnast * Ludmila Vachtová (1933–2020), Czech art historian and critic *

Lyudmila Verbitskaya Lyudmila Verbitskaya (née, Lyudmila Bubnova; 17 October 1936 – 24 November 2019) was a Russian linguist and teacher. She served as president of Saint Petersburg State University. Career Lyudmila Alekseevna Verbitskaya was born in Leningrad o ...

(1936–2019), Russian linguist and teacher; president of Saint Petersburg State University * Lyudmila Veselkova, Soviet middle distance runner *

Lyudmila Zhivkova Lyudmila Todorova Zhivkova ( bg, Людмила Тодорова Живкова; 26 July 1942 – 21 July 1981) was a senior Bulgarian Communist Party functionary and Politburo member. She was the daughter of Bulgarian Communist leader Todor Zhi ...

, Bulgarian politician *

Lyudmila Zhuravleva Lyudmila Vasilyevna Zhuravleva (russian: Людмила Васильевна Журавлёва, uk, Людмила Василівна Журавльова, Ljudmyla Vasylivna Žuravljova; born 22 May 1946) is a Soviet, Russian and Ukrainian ast ...

, Soviet astronomer *

Lyudmila Zykina Lyudmila Georgievna Zykina (russian: link=no, Людми́ла Гео́ргиевна Зы́кина; 10 June 1929 – 1 July 2009) was a national folk singer of Russia. She was born in Moscow and joined the Pyatnitsky Choir in 1947. Her surna ...

, Russian singer

Fictional characters

* Ludmilla, the main antagonist of ''

Bartok the Magnificent ''Bartok the Magnificent'' is a 1999 American direct-to-video animated adventure comedy film directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman. It is a spin-off to the 1997 film '' Anastasia'' which was also directed by Bluth and Goldman. The film centers ...

'' * Ludmilla Vipiteno, the "Other Reader" in the novel ''

If on a winter's night a traveler ''If on a winter's night a traveler'' ( it, Se una notte d'inverno un viaggiatore) is a 1979 novel by the Italian writer Italo Calvino. The postmodernist narrative, in the form of a frame story, is about the reader trying to read a book called ...

,'' by

Italo Calvino Italo Calvino (, also , ;. RAI (circa 1970), retrieved 25 October 2012. 15 October 1923 – 19 September 1985) was an Italian writer and journalist. His best known works include the ''Our Ancestors'' trilogy (1952–1959), the '' Cosmicomi ...

Medieval and early modern eras

Late modern era

Fictional characters

See also