Radu is a masculine

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern, and Southeast Europe, Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, S ...

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 etymological origin, derived from the Old Church Slavonic root ''rad-'' (cf. '' радъ'' "glad"). Radu became widespread among the (non-Slavic) Romanians because of

Radu Negru Radu may refer to: People * Radu (given name), Romanian masculine given name * Radu (surname), Romanian surname * Rulers of Wallachia, see * Prince Radu of Romania (born 1960), disputed pretender to the former Romanian throne Other uses * Radu ( ...

's status as legendary founder of

Wallachia Wallachia or Walachia (; ro, Țara Românească, lit=The Romanian Land' or 'The Romanian Country, ; archaic: ', Romanian Cyrillic alphabet: ) is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Lower Danube and s ...

, a historical Romanian state. Many Wallachian and some

Moldavia Moldavia ( ro, Moldova, or , literally "The Country of Moldavia"; in Romanian Cyrillic alphabet, Romanian Cyrillic: or ; chu, Землѧ Молдавскаѧ; el, Ἡγεμονία τῆς Μολδαβίας) is a historical region and for ...

n voivodes or princes have been named Radu. Notable people named Radu include:

A

Radu Albot Radu Albot (born 11 November 1989) is a Moldovan professional tennis player. He is the first player from Moldova to win ATP singles (2019 Delray Beach Open) and doubles ( 2015 Istanbul Open) titles. Albot has won 1 ATP World Tour singles tit ...

(born 1989), Moldovan tennis player * Radu Aldulescu (1922–2006), Romanian-Italian cellist * Radu Aldulescu (born 1954), Romanian novelist * Radu Almășan (born 1980), Romanian singer of the band Bosquito * Radu Aricescu, Romanian-British molecular neuroscientist

B

* Radu Barbu (born 1989), Romanian football player * Radu Băldescu (1888–1953), Romanian general during World War II *

Radu Bălescu Radu Bălescu (Bucharest, 18 July 1932 – 1 June 2006, Bucharest) was a Romanian and Belgian (since 1959) scientist and professor at the ''Statistical and Plasma Physics'' group of the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB). He studied at the Tit ...

(1932–2006), Romanian and Belgian physicist *

Radu Beligan Radu Beligan (; 14 December 1918 – 20 July 2016) was a Romanian actor, director, and essayist, with an activity of over 70 years in theatre, film, television, and radio. On 15 December 2013, confirmed by Guinness World Records, the actor receiv ...

(1918–2016), Romanian actor and director *

Radu Berceanu Radu Mircea Berceanu (; born 5 March 1953) is a Romanian engineer and politician. A member of the Democratic Liberal Party (PD-L), he was a member of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies for Dolj County from 1990 to 2004, and sat in the Romanian S ...

(born 1953), Romanian engineer and politician * Radu Gioan Bey (1613–1660), Prince of Moldavia *

Radu Bîrzan Radu Nicolae Bîrzan (born 12 September 1999) is a professional Romanian football midfielder for Viitorul Dăești. He made his senior league debut for Universitatea Craiova on 30 April 2017 in a Liga I 3–0 away win at CFR Cluj Fotbal C ...

(born 1999), Romanian football player * Radu Boboc (born 1999), footballer * Radu Boureanu (1906–1997), Romanian poet and writer * Radu Budișteanu (1902–1991), activist of the Iron Guard * Radu Buzescu ( fl. c. 1593–1601), boyar of Wallachia during the reign of Michael the Brave

C

Radu Câmpeanu Radu-Anton Câmpeanu (; 28 February 1922 - 19 October 2016) was a Romanian politician who was also jurist and economist by profession, after graduating from the University of Bucharest in November 1945. During the interwar period and up until 19 ...

(1922–2016), Romanian politician and jurist * Radu Catan (born 1989), Moldovan football player * Radu Chiriac (born 2000), Romanian football player * Radu Ciobanu (born 1975), Romanian football player *

Radu Ciuceanu Radu Ciuceanu (16 April 1928 – 12 September 2022) was a Romanian historian and politician. A member of the National Liberal Party and later the Greater Romania Party, he served in the Chamber of Deputies from 1990 to 1992 and again from 2000 t ...

(1928–2022), Romanian historian and politician * Radu Crișan (born 1996), Romanian football player

D

Radu Dărăban Radu Dărăban (born 26 June 1983) is a Romanian fencer. In the 2012 Summer Olympics he competed in the Men's foil, but was defeated in the second round. Career Dărăban began fencing at age 9 at his local club, CSM Cluj, where he was trai ...

(born 1983), Romanian fencer * Traian Rafael Radu Demetrescu (1866–1896), Romanian writer * Radu Doicaru (born 1979), Romanian football player *

Radu Drăgușin Radu Matei Drăgușin (; born 3 February 2002) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for club Genoa and the Romania national team. Early life Drăgușin was born in Bucharest to Svetlana () and Dan Drăgușin, both f ...

(born 2002), Romanian football player * Radu Dudescu (1894–1983), Romanian architect

F

Radu Filipescu Radu Filipescu (born December 26, 1955cpcadcr.presidency.ro/upload/Radu_Filipescu.pdf) is a former Romanian Romanian anti-communist resistance movement, anti-Communist dissident. Radu Filipescu's maternal uncle, Victor Groza, is the brother of Pe ...

(born 1955), Romanian anti-communist dissident *

Radu Florescu Radu Florescu (23 October 1925 – 18 May 2014) was a Romanian academic who held the position of Emeritus Professor of History at Boston College. His work on Vlad Dracula includes a series of bestselling books that he co-authored with his collea ...

(1925–2014), Romanian historian and academic, professor at Boston College

G

* Radu Gabrea (1937–2017), Romanian filmmaker *

Radu Pavel Gheo Radu Pavel Gheo (; born Pavel Gheorghiță Radu on October 3, 1969) is a Romanian fiction writer and essayist. Gheo is a member of PEN Club from Romania (since 2005) and of the Romanian Writers' Union (since 2003). Biography Gheo was born in Or ...

(born 1969), Romanian writer *

Radu Ghiță Radu Cristian Ghiță (born 22 November 1990) is a Romanian handballer who plays as a right back for AHC Potaissa Turda and the Romania national team. Achievements * Liga Națională: **''Silver Medalist'': 2012, 2013, 2014, 2020 **''Bronze Me ...

(born 1990), Romanian handball player *

Radu Gînsari Radu Gînsari (born 10 December 1991) is a Moldovan professional footballer who plays as a winger or a midfielder for Greek Super League 2 club Xanthi. He also possesses Russian citizenship as Radu Leonidovich Gynsar (russian: Раду Лео� ...

(born 1991), Moldovan football player * Radu Goldiș (born 1947), Romanian-American jazz guitarist * Adrian Radu Gontariu (born 1984), Romanian volleyball player * Radu Grigorovici (1911–2008), Romanian physicist *

Radu Gyr Radu Gyr (; pen name of Radu Ștefan Demetrescu ; March 2, 1905, Câmpulung-Muscel – 29 April 1975, Bucharest) was a Romanian poet, essayist, playwright and journalist. Biography Early life Gyr was the son of actor Ștefan "Coco" Dumitres ...

(pen name of Radu Demetrescu; 1905–1975), Romanian poet and writer

I

Radu Irimescu Radu Irimescu (December 9, 1890 – May 1975) was a Romanian businessman, politician, and diplomat. The son of an admiral, Irimescu joined the Romanian Navy and, being first in his class, was sent to Germany, as a pre-World War I Romanian-Ge ...

(1890–1975), Romanian businessman, politician, and diplomat *

Radu Ivan Radu Ivan (born 17 July 1969) is a Romanian judo is an unarmed modern Japanese martial art, Olympic sport (since 1964), and the most prominent form of jacket wrestling competed internationally.『日本大百科全書』電子版【柔 ...

(born 1969), Romanian judo practitioner

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* Radu Jercan (1945–2012), Romanian football player *

Radu Jude Radu Jude (; born 28 March 1977) is a Romanian film director and screenwriter. Biography In 2003, Jude graduated from the Film Directing Department of the Media University of Bucharest. He worked as an assistant director for feature films inclu ...

(born 1977), Romanian filmmaker

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* Radu Klapper (1937–2006), Romanian-Israeli poet and author *

Radu Korne Radu may refer to: People * Radu (given name), Romanian masculine given name * Radu (surname), Romanian surname * Rulers of Wallachia, see * Prince Radu of Romania (born 1960), disputed pretender to the former Romanian throne Other uses * Radu ( ...

(1895–1949), Romanian general during World War II

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* Radu Lazăr (born 1947), Romanian water polo player *

Radu Lecca Radu D. Lecca (February 15, 1890–1980) was a Romanian spy, journalist, civil servant and convicted war criminal. A World War I veteran who served a prison term for espionage in France during the early 1930s, he was a noted supporter of anti ...

(1890–1980), Romanian spy and journalist *

Radu Lefter Radu Gabriel Lefter (born 17 February 1970) is a Romanian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper In many team sports which involve scoring goals, the goalkeeper (sometimes termed goaltender, netminder, GK, goalie or keep ...

(born 1970), Romanian football player * Radu Leonte (born 1991), Romanian football player *

Radu Lupu Radu Lupu (30 November 1945 – 17 April 2022) was a Romanian pianist. He was widely recognized as one of the greatest pianists of his time. Born in Galați, Romania, Lupu began studying piano at the age of six. Two of his major piano teach ...

(born 1945), Romanian pianist

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Radu Malfatti Radu Malfatti is an Austrian trombone and harmonica player, and composer. He was born in Innsbruck, in the province of Tyrol, on December 16, 1943. Malfatti is associated with the style of music known as reductionism and has been described as "a ...

(born 1943), Austrian trombone player and composer *

Radu Manicatide Radu Manicatide (April 17, 1912 – March 18, 2004) was a Romanian engineer and aircraft constructor. He was born in Iași and grew up in Bucharest, in a house on Luterană Street. In 1926, at age 14, Manicatide built his first plane (the RM-1, a ...

(1912–2004), Romanian engineer and aircraft constructor * Radu Marculescu, electrical engineer * Radu Mareș (1941–2016), Romanian writer and journalist *

Radu Marian Radu Marian (; born in 1977) is a Moldavian male soprano or sopranist. He possesses a pure soprano voice in the range of C4 to C6, and he is considered an important singer in Baroque music. His repertoire incorporates cantatas written for so ...

(born 1977), Moldavian singer sopranist * Radu Ștefan Mazăre (born 1968), Romanian politician *

Radu Mihăileanu Radu Mihăileanu (born 23 April 1958) is a Romanian-born French film director and screenwriter. He left Romania in 1980 and graduated the IDHEC cinematographic institute in Paris. In addition to his work in the cinema he published a book of poe ...

(born 1958), Romanian-French actor and filmmaker * Radu Mîțu (born 1994), Romanian football player * Radu Motreanu (born 1998), Romanian football player *

Radu Muntean Radu Muntean (; born 8 June 1971 in Bucharest) is a Romanian film director and screenwriter. He is a central figure of the Romanian New Wave.

(born 1971), Romanian filmmaker

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* Radu Negulescu (born 1941), Romanian table tennis player * Radu Neguț (born 1981), Romanian football player * Radu Niculescu (born 1975), Romanian football player * Radu Nunweiller (born 1944), Romanian football player

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Radu Paladi Radu Paladi (16 January 1927- 30 May 2013) was a Romanian composer, pianist, and conductor. His compositions include stage and film music, choral works, vocal music and vocal-symphonic works, chamber music, symphonic music as well as concertos. ...

(1927–2013), Romanian composer, pianist, and conductor * Radu Paliciuc (born 1988), Romanian basketball player *

Radu Pamfil Radu Pamfil (21 August 1951, in Baia Mare – 22 March 2009) was a Romanian football player who played for FC Baia Mare and Dinamo Bucureşti. In 1982, playing for FC Baia Mare, he started in both the European Cup Winners' Cup The UEFA Cup ...

(1951–2009), Romanian football player *

Miron Radu Paraschivescu __NOTOC__ Miron Radu Paraschivescu (; 2 October 1911 – 17 February 1971) was a Romanian poet, essayist, journalist, and translator. Born in Zimnicea, Teleorman County, he went to high school in Ploiești, after which he studied fine arts, firs ...

(1911–1971), Romanian writer *

Radu Petrescu Radu Marian Petrescu (born 12 November 1982) is a Romanian football referee who officiates in the Liga I. He has been a FIFA referee since 2012, and is ranked as a UEFA first category referee. Refereeing career In 2007, Petrescu began officiati ...

(born 1980), Romanian rugby referee * Radu Marian Petrescu (born 1982), Romanian football referee * Radu Podgorean (born 1955), Romanian politician *

Radu Poklitaru Radu Poklitaru (born 1972 in Chișinău, Moldova) – choreographer-director working in Ukraine and many other countries of the world, the Honoured Worker of Culture of Ukraine (2017), the Shevchenko National Prize of Ukraine winner (2016), ''The ...

(born 1972), Moldovan choreographer *

Dumitru Radu Popa Dumitru Radu Popa (born October 26, 1949) is a Romanian-born writer, essayist, translator and literary critic. In 1985, he defected to the US, asking for political asylum. Education Popa obtained a Master of Arts in Romance Languages and Lite ...

(born 1949), Romanian-American writer *

Dumitru Radu Popescu Dumitru Radu Popescu (; 19 August 1935 – 2 January 2023) was a Romanian novelist, poet, dramatist, essayist and short story writer. He was a corresponding member of the Romanian Academy and was, between 1980 and 1990, Chairman of the Romanian Wr ...

(born 1935), Romanian writer * Mihai Radu Pricop (1950–2018), Romanian politician

R

* Radu Rebeja (born 1973), Moldovan football player * Radu Rogac (born 1995), Moldovan football player * Prince Radu of Romania (born 1960 as Radu Duda), husband of Margareta of Romania, pretender to the Romanian throne * Radu Rosetti (1853–1926), Moldavian and Romanian politician and writer *

Radu D. Rosetti Radu D. Rosetti or Rossetti (December 13 Constantin Ciopraga, ''Literatura română între 1900 și 1918'', pp. 296–297. Iași: Editura Junimea, 1970 or December 18, Șerban Cioculescu, "Amintiri. Radu D. Rosetti", in '' România Literară'', I ...

(1874–1964), Romanian writer *

Radu R. Rosetti Radu R. Rosetti ( – June 2, 1949) was a Romanian brigadier general, military historian, librarian, and a titular member of the Romanian Academy. Biography Early years Born in Căiuți, Bacău County, he was part of the old ''boyar'' Rosetti fam ...

(1877–1949), Romanian general and historian

S

* Radu Sabău (born 1968), Romanian water polo player * Radu Sabo (born 1971), Romanian football player * Radu Scîrneci (1926−2015), Romanian alpine skier * Radu Scoarță (born 1999), Romanian football player * Radu Simion (1940–2015), Romanian pan flute player *

Radu Sîrbu Radu Sîrbu (also known as Radu Sârbu, RadU, Picasso and Radu Alexeevici Sîrbu (russian: Раду Алексеевич Сырбу, translit=Radu Alekseevich Syrbu; born 14 December 1978 in Peresecina) is a Moldovan singer and music producer. ...

(born 1978), Moldovan pop singer, formerly of the boy band O-Zone *

Radu Stanca Radu Stanca (March 5, 1920 – December 26, 1962) was a Romanian poet, playwright, theatre director, theatre critic and theoretician. He was born in Sebeș and died in Cluj-Napoca. Stanca was member of the Sibiu Literary Circle, a movement of ...

(1920–1962), poet, playwright, theatre director *

Radu Stroe Radu Stroe (born August 31, 1949) is a Romanian navigational engineer and politician. An independent, he was formerly a member of the National Liberal Party (PNL). He was a member of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies for Maramureș County from 200 ...

(born 1949), Romanian navigational engineer and politician * Radu Lucian Sulica, Romanian-American physician and laryngologist

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* Radu Țârle (born 1967), Romanian politician *

Radu Timofte Alexandru-Radu Timofte (; 7 April 1949 – 19 October 2009) was a Romanian soldier, politician and spy chief. A member of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), he sat in the Romanian Senate from 1990 to 2001, representing Neamț County. From 2001 ...

(1949–2009), Romanian soldier, politician, and spy chief * Radu Troi (born 1949), Romanian football player * Radu Țuculescu (born 1949), Romanian novelist and playwright *

Radu Tudoran Radu Tudoran (; born Nicolae Bogza; March 8, 1910 – November 18, 1992) was a popular Romanian novelist. He was born Nicolae Bogza in Blejoi, Prahova County, the younger brother of Geo Bogza, and son of . After graduating from the military h ...

(1910–1992), Romanian novelist

V

* Radu Varia (born 1940), art critic and historian *

Radu Vasile Radu Vasile (; 10 October 1942 – 3 July 2013) was a Romanian politician, historian, and poet. Originally a member of the Christian Democratic National Peasants' Party (PNȚ-CD), Vasile served as the Prime Minister of Romania between 17 April 1 ...

(1942–2013), former prime minister of Romania * Radu G. Vlădescu (1886–1964), Romanian professor of veterinary medicine *

Radu Voina Radu Voina (born 29 July 1950 in Apold, Șaeș, Mureș County) is a Romanian former Team handball, handball player and current head coach. Playing career He competed in the 1972 Summer Olympics, in the 1976 Summer Olympics, and the 1980 Summer O ...

(born 1950), Romanian handball player

Z

* Radu Zaharia (born 1989), football player

Romanian rulers

''This section is organized chronologically.'' *

(''Radu the Black''; born 1269), legendary founder of Wallachia *

Radu I of Wallachia Radu I (died 1383) was a Voivode of Wallachia (c. 1377 – c. 1383). His year of birth is unattested in any primary source. He was the son of Nicolae Alexandru and half-brother and successor to Vladislav I. He is identified by many historians a ...

( fl. c. 1377–1383), Voivode of Wallachia, sometimes identified as Radu Negru *

Radu II of Wallachia Radu II Praznaglava (Radu II Empty Head/in Old Slavic/), (? – 1428?) was a ruler of Wallachia in the 15th century, ruling for 4 terms, each time preceded by Dan II, his rival for the throne, and each time succeeded by him. Of those 4 periods ...

(''Radu II Praznaglava'', ''Radu II Empty Head'', ''Radu the Bald''; died c. 1428), reigned intermittently from 1420–1427 *

Radu the Handsome Radu III of Wallachia, commonly called Radu the Handsome or Radu the Fair ( ro, Radu cel Frumos; tr, Radu Bey; 1437/1439 — January 1475), was the younger brother of Vlad III and Prince of the principality of Wallachia. They were both sons of ...

(''Radu cel Frumos'', Radu III of Wallachia; 1437/1439–1475), the younger brother of Vlad III the Impaler *

Radu IV the Great Radu IV the Great ( ro, Radu cel Mare), (1467 – 23 April 1508) was a Voivode (Prince) of Wallachia from September 1495 to April 1508. He succeeded his father, Vlad Călugărul, who was one of the three brothers to Vlad III the Impaler ( ro, Vla ...

(''Radu cel Mare''; 1467–1508), son of Vlad Călugărul, reigned 1495–1508 *

Radu Bădica Radu Bădica (? – 19 January 1524) was the son of Radu IV the Great Radu IV the Great ( ro, Radu cel Mare), (1467 – 23 April 1508) was a Voivode (Prince) of Wallachia from September 1495 to April 1508. He succeeded his father, Vlad Călug� ...

(died 1524), son of Radu IV the Great, reigned 1523–1524 *

Radu of Afumați Radu of Afumați (? – 2 January 1529) was Voivode (Prince) of Wallachia between January 1522 and January 1529 (with intermittences in the first year, because he lost the throne between April–June and August–October 1522). He began his reign ...

(''Radu de la Afumaţi''; died 1529), son of Radu cel Mare, reigned intermittently from 1522–1529 *

Radu Paisie Radu VII Paisie, officially Radul ( Church Slavonic: Радул воєвода), also known as Radu vodă Măjescul, Radu vodă Călugărul, Petru I, and Petru de la Argeș (ca. 1500 – after 1545), was Prince of Wallachia almost continuously fr ...

(''Radu VII Paise'', ''Petru I''; fl. 1534-1545), son of Radu cel Mare, reigned almost continuously from 1535–1545 * Radu Ilie Haidăul (died 1558), son of Radu of Afumați, reigned 1552–1553 *

Radu Mihnea Radu Mihnea (1586 – 13 January 1626) was Voivode (Prince) of Wallachia between September 1601 and March 1602, and again between March and May 1611, September 1611 and August 1616, August 1620 and August 1623, and Voivode (Prince) of Moldavia ...

(1586–1626), son of Mihnea Turcitul, reigned from 1601–1602, 1611, 1611–1616, and 1620–1623 *

Radu Șerban Radu Șerban (? – 23 March 1620) was a Wallachian nobleman who reigned as the principality's ''voivode'' during two periods from 1602 to 1610 and during 1611. A supposed descendant of Neagoe Basarab, he attained high office during the reign of ...

(died 1620), reigned from 1602–1610 and in 1611 * Radu Iliaș (died 1632), son of Alexandru Iliaș, reigned in 1632 *

Radu Leon Radu Leon (? – 1669) was ruler of Wallachia from 1664 to 1669. He had the byname Radu the Oyster-seller. Son of Wallachian ruler Leon Tomșa, and putative grandson of Ștefan Tomșa, ruler of Moldavia, Radu Leon replaced the deposed Grigor ...

(also ''Radu the Oyster-seller''; died 1669), son of Leon Tomșa, reigned 1664–1669

Other uses

* Radu Barvon, a character in the light novel series ''

Trinity Blood is a series of Japanese light novels written by Sunao Yoshida with illustrations by Thores Shibamoto and originally serialized in ''The Sneaker''. Set 900 years after an apocalyptic war between humans and vampires, the series focuses on the ...

'' *

George Ivașcu George Ivașcu (most common rendition of Gheorghe I. Ivașcu;"Partea I B: Dispozițiuni și publicațiuni care nu au caracter normativ: Deciziuni. Ministerul Informațiilor", in ''Monitorul Oficial'', Issue 112/1947, p. 3980 July 22, 1911 – ...

, Romanian journalist who used the pen name "Radu Vardaru" *

Sofronie Drincec Sofronie Drincec (born 3 November 1967 as Radu Ștefan Drincec) is a bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Life Drincec was born in Arad, Romania, and is the son of Petru Drincec and Maria Drincec. In 1986, he graduated from the Moise Nicoar ...

, Romanian Orthodox bishop born "Radu Ștefan Drincec"

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Romanian rulers

Other uses

See also