Ukrainian women have left their mark on history for more than a thousand years, from Olga of Kyiv, a ruler of medieval Kyivan Rus, to poet Lesya Ukrainka and Olympic champions of today. This list covers rulers, writers, painters, singers, actresses, scientists, and athletes, along with women who were born in Ukraine and became famous in other countries.
It is also a rich source of baby name inspiration. Names like Olha, Oksana, Sofia, and Solomiya are beautiful, meaningful, and easy to love. After the list, you will find a table of names with meanings and the famous women who wore them.
The 100 Most Famous Ukrainian Women of All Time
The list mixes historical figures and modern names across politics, the arts, science, sports, and more; numbers are for easy reference, not a strict ranking.
| No. | Name | Occupation / Why Famous |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lesya Ukrainka | Poet and dramatist regarded as the foremost woman writer in Ukrainian literature |
| 2 | Olga of Kyiv | Ruler of Kyivan Rus and one of its earliest Christian saints |
| 3 | Anne of Kyiv | Daughter of Yaroslav the Wise who became queen of France |
| 4 | Elizabeth of Kyiv | Daughter of Yaroslav the Wise who became queen of Norway |
| 5 | Anastasia of Kyiv | Daughter of Yaroslav the Wise who became queen of Hungary |
| 6 | Roxelana (Hurrem Sultan) | Ruthenian-born wife of the Ottoman sultan Suleiman the Magnificent |
| 7 | Golda Meir | Kyiv-born politician who became Israel’s fourth prime minister |
| 8 | Clarice Lispector | Ukraine-born Brazilian novelist and short story writer |
| 9 | Svetlana Alexievich | Nobel Prize-winning Belarusian writer born in Ivano-Frankivsk to a Ukrainian mother |
| 10 | Sophie Tucker | Ukraine-born American singer and vaudeville star |
| 11 | Louise Nevelson | Ukraine-born American sculptor known for monumental wooden assemblages |
| 12 | Sonia Delaunay | Ukraine-born French abstract painter and designer |
| 13 | Marie Bashkirtseff | Poltava-region-born painter and diarist who worked in Paris |
| 14 | Ida Rubinstein | Kharkiv-born dancer, actress, and patron of the arts |
| 15 | Mila Kunis | Chernivtsi-born American actress known for That ’70s Show and Black Swan |
| 16 | Milla Jovovich | Kyiv-born actress and model known for the Resident Evil films |
| 17 | Olga Kurylenko | Berdiansk-born actress known for the Bond film Quantum of Solace |
| 18 | Vera Kholodnaya | Poltava-born silent film star of the early 20th century |
| 19 | Lyudmila Gurchenko | Kharkiv-born Soviet actress and singer known for Carnival Night |
| 20 | Klavdiya Shulzhenko | Kharkiv-born singer and a major star of Soviet popular music |
| 21 | Larisa Shepitko | Bakhmut-born film director known for The Ascent |
| 22 | Ruslana | Singer who won the Eurovision Song Contest with “Wild Dances” |
| 23 | Jamala | Crimean Tatar singer who won the Eurovision Song Contest with “1944” |
| 24 | Sofia Rotaru | Pop singer from the Chernivtsi region with a decades-long career |
| 25 | Tina Karol | Pop singer, Eurovision contestant, and television personality |
| 26 | Ani Lorak | Pop singer who placed second at the Eurovision Song Contest |
| 27 | Svetlana Loboda | Kyiv-born pop singer with an international following |
| 28 | Nina Matviyenko | Folk singer celebrated for traditional Ukrainian songs |
| 29 | Solomiya Krushelnytska | Opera soprano celebrated for her role in Madama Butterfly |
| 30 | Kateryna Pavlenko | Lead singer of the folk-electronic band Go_A |
| 31 | Khrystyna Soloviy | Singer known for modern versions of folk songs |
| 32 | Alyona Alyona | Rapper who placed third at Eurovision alongside Jerry Heil |
| 33 | Jerry Heil | Singer-songwriter who placed third at Eurovision alongside Alyona Alyona |
| 34 | Iryna Bilyk | Pop singer with many hit albums |
| 35 | Natalia Mohylevska | Pop singer and television personality with many hit songs |
| 36 | Olya Polyakova | Pop singer and television host known for her humor |
| 37 | Alina Pash | Rapper and singer from the Zakarpattia region |
| 38 | Oksana Bilozir | Singer who later served as culture minister |
| 39 | Oksana Baiul | Figure skater and Olympic gold medalist |
| 40 | Lilia Podkopayeva | Gymnast who won the Olympic all-around title in Atlanta |
| 41 | Larisa Latynina | Kherson-born Soviet gymnast who won 18 Olympic medals |
| 42 | Yana Klochkova | Swimmer who won four Olympic gold medals |
| 43 | Olga Kharlan | Sabre fencer and Olympic and world champion |
| 44 | Elina Svitolina | Tennis player who reached No. 3 in the women’s world rankings |
| 45 | Marta Kostyuk | Professional tennis player and WTA singles title winner |
| 46 | Yaroslava Mahuchikh | High jumper, Olympic champion, and world record holder |
| 47 | Natalia Dobrynska | Track and field athlete who won the Olympic heptathlon title |
| 48 | Daria Bilodid | Judo world champion and Olympic medalist |
| 49 | Hanna Rizatdinova | Rhythmic gymnast and Olympic bronze medalist |
| 50 | Anna Bessonova | Rhythmic gymnast, world champion, and two-time Olympic bronze medalist |
| 51 | Kateryna Serebrianska | Olympic champion in individual rhythmic gymnastics |
| 52 | Iryna Deriugina | Rhythmic gymnastics world champion and renowned coach |
| 53 | Inna Osypenko-Radomska | Sprint canoeist and Olympic gold medalist |
| 54 | Natalia Skakun | Weightlifter who won an Olympic gold medal in Athens |
| 55 | Olha Saladukha | Triple jumper who won a world championship gold medal |
| 56 | Zhanna Pintusevych-Block | Sprinter and world champion in the 100 meters |
| 57 | Inha Babakova | High jumper who won a world championship gold medal |
| 58 | Irini Merleni | Freestyle wrestler who won an Olympic gold medal in Athens |
| 59 | Olena Pidhrushna | Biathlete, world champion, and Olympic relay gold medalist |
| 60 | Mariya Muzychuk | Chess grandmaster and former women’s world champion |
| 61 | Anna Muzychuk | Chess grandmaster and multiple world rapid and blitz champion |
| 62 | Anna Ushenina | Chess grandmaster and former women’s world champion |
| 63 | Kateryna Lagno | Lviv-born chess grandmaster who later represented Russia |
| 64 | Yulia Tymoshenko | First woman to serve as prime minister of Ukraine |
| 65 | Yulia Svyrydenko | Prime minister of Ukraine and former economy minister |
| 66 | Olena Zelenska | First Lady of Ukraine and screenwriter |
| 67 | Marko Vovchok | Pen name of writer Maria Vilinska, known for stories of village life |
| 68 | Olha Kobylianska | Writer and early feminist voice from Bukovyna |
| 69 | Lina Kostenko | One of Ukraine’s most celebrated poets |
| 70 | Oksana Zabuzhko | Novelist and essayist known for Fieldwork in Ukrainian Sex |
| 71 | Maria Matios | Novelist known for the book Sweet Darusya |
| 72 | Olena Teliha | Poet and literary figure of the interwar era |
| 73 | Olena Pchilka | Writer, publisher, and mother of Lesya Ukrainka |
| 74 | Natalia Kobrynska | Writer and pioneer of the women’s movement in Galicia |
| 75 | Sofia Rusova | Educator and writer who championed Ukrainian-language schools |
| 76 | Milena Rudnytska | Politician and leader of the women’s movement in interwar Galicia |
| 77 | Victoria Amelina | Novelist and children’s author from Lviv |
| 78 | Maria Prymachenko | Self-taught folk painter famous for colorful fantastical animals |
| 79 | Kateryna Bilokur | Self-taught painter known for her flower paintings |
| 80 | Maria Zankovetska | Leading stage actress of 19th-century Ukrainian theater |
| 81 | Natalia Uzhviy | Stage and screen actress of the Ivan Franko Theater in Kyiv |
| 82 | Ada Rogovtseva | Acclaimed stage and film actress honored as a People’s Artist |
| 83 | Liudmila Pavlichenko | World War II sniper from Bila Tserkva |
| 84 | Kateryna Yushchenko | Computer scientist who created the Address programming language |
| 85 | Ivanna Sakhno | Kyiv-born actress known for Pacific Rim: Uprising and The Spy Who Dumped Me |
| 86 | Alla Horska | Painter and a leading figure of the 1960s generation of Ukrainian artists |
| 87 | Tetiana Yablonska | Painter celebrated for her large canvases of everyday life |
| 88 | Sofia Andrukhovych | Novelist known for the book Felix Austria |
| 89 | Iryna Vilde | Writer known for her novels about life in western Ukraine |
| 90 | Oksana Petrusenko | Opera soprano who was a star of the Kyiv Opera |
| 91 | Masha Efrosinina | Television presenter known for hosting major entertainment shows |
| 92 | Dayana Yastremska | Tennis player who reached the semifinals of the Australian Open |
| 93 | Lesia Tsurenko | Tennis player and WTA title winner who reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal |
| 94 | Alona Bondarenko | Tennis player who won the Australian Open doubles title with her sister |
| 95 | Kateryna Bondarenko | Tennis player who won the Australian Open doubles title with her sister |
| 96 | Vita Semerenko | Biathlete who won Olympic gold in the women’s relay |
| 97 | Valentyna Semerenko | Biathlete who won Olympic gold in the women’s relay alongside her twin sister |
| 98 | Yuliia Dzhyma | Biathlete who won Olympic gold in the women’s relay |
| 99 | Olena Kostevych | Sport shooter who won an Olympic gold medal in air pistol |
| 100 | Yuliya Levchenko | High jumper who won a world championship silver medal |
Baby Name Ideas Inspired by Famous Ukrainian Women
These given names belong to women on the list above. Many have Greek, Latin, Hebrew, or Old Norse roots and came to Ukraine through Christian tradition.
| No. | Name | Pronunciation | Meaning | Origin | Famous Namesake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lesya | LEH-syah | A Ukrainian pet form of Larysa, a name of Greek origin | Ukrainian / Greek | Lesya Ukrainka |
| 2 | Olha | OHL-hah | From the Old Norse name Helga, meaning “holy” | Old Norse | Olga of Kyiv |
| 3 | Anna | AH-nah | From Hebrew Hannah, meaning “grace” or “favor” | Hebrew | Anne of Kyiv |
| 4 | Sofia | soh-FEE-ah | “Wisdom” | Greek | Sofia Rotaru |
| 5 | Mila | MEE-lah | From a Slavic word meaning “dear” or “gracious” | Slavic | Mila Kunis |
| 6 | Milla | MEE-lah | A short form of Lyudmila, “favored by the people” or “dear to the people” | Slavic | Milla Jovovich |
| 7 | Ruslana | roos-LAH-nah | Feminine form of Ruslan, a name of Turkic origin often linked to “lion” | Turkic | Ruslana |
| 8 | Solomiya | soh-loh-MEE-yah | The Ukrainian form of Salome, linked to the Hebrew word shalom, “peace” | Hebrew | Solomiya Krushelnytska |
| 9 | Kateryna | kah-teh-RIH-nah | The Ukrainian form of Katherine; its origin is uncertain, though it has long been linked to Greek katharos, “pure” | Greek | Kateryna Bilokur |
| 10 | Khrystyna | khrih-STIH-nah | “Follower of Christ” | Greek / Latin | Khrystyna Soloviy |
| 11 | Oksana | ohk-SAH-nah | The Ukrainian form of Xenia, from Greek for “hospitality” | Greek | Oksana Baiul |
| 12 | Lilia | LEE-lee-ah | “Lily” | Latin | Lilia Podkopayeva |
| 13 | Larisa | lah-REE-sah | Of Greek origin, possibly from the ancient city of Larissa | Greek | Larisa Latynina |
| 14 | Yana | YAH-nah | A Slavic feminine form of John, “God is gracious” | Hebrew | Yana Klochkova |
| 15 | Olga | OHL-gah | Another form of Olha, from Old Norse Helga, “holy” | Old Norse | Olga Kharlan |
| 16 | Marta | MAR-tah | From Aramaic, meaning “lady” | Aramaic | Marta Kostyuk |
| 17 | Yaroslava | yah-roh-SLAH-vah | From Slavic elements usually translated as “fierce” or “bright” and “glory” | Slavic | Yaroslava Mahuchikh |
| 18 | Daria | DAR-yah | From the Persian name Darius, often translated as “possessing good” | Persian | Daria Bilodid |
| 19 | Hanna | HAH-nah | From Hebrew Hannah, “grace” or “favor” | Hebrew | Hanna Rizatdinova |
| 20 | Mariya | mah-REE-yah | The Ukrainian form of Mary; its original meaning is uncertain | Hebrew | Mariya Muzychuk |
| 21 | Yulia | YOO-lee-ah | From the Roman family name Julius | Latin | Yulia Tymoshenko |
| 22 | Olena | oh-LEH-nah | The Ukrainian form of Helen, of uncertain meaning, often linked to “torch” or “light” | Greek | Olena Zelenska |
| 23 | Lina | LEE-nah | A short form of several names, used as a name on its own | Various | Lina Kostenko |
| 24 | Natalia | nah-TAH-lee-ah | From Latin natale domini, “birthday of the Lord,” referring to Christmas | Latin | Natalia Dobrynska |
Ukrainian Naming Traditions
A full Ukrainian name has three parts: a given name, a patronymic based on the father’s first name, and a family name. A woman whose father is named Petro, for example, has the patronymic Petrivna. Patronymics are used in formal speech and official documents.
Many family names show their origin in their endings. Names ending in -enko, such as Shevchenko and Tymoshenko, are especially common and stay the same for women and men. Surnames that work like adjectives, such as those ending in -sky, take a feminine ending, -ska, for women, as in Krushelnytska.
Most traditional Ukrainian names came through the Orthodox and Greek Catholic church calendars, so many families celebrate a name day on the feast of the saint who shares the child’s name. Ukrainians also use many affectionate short forms. Lesya comes from Larysa, and Olena can become Olenka.
You may see the same name spelled in different ways in English. Ukraine has an official system for writing Ukrainian names in Latin letters, which gives spellings like Olha and Kyiv. Older English texts often used spellings based on Russian, such as Olga and Kiev.
How to Use These Names for Your Baby
- Many Ukrainian names have classic English cousins. Anna, Sofia, and Natalia sit comfortably beside the names in our classic baby names list.
- Ukrainian names come with sweet short forms, from Lesya to Olenka. See our list of baby names with cute nicknames for more ideas.
- Decide on a spelling early. Olha and Olga, or Yulia and Julia, are pronounced alike but look different on paper.
- Use a Ukrainian family name in the middle spot to honor your heritage. Our guide to middle names for girls and boys can help.
- Say the name with your last name and a nickname to make sure all three versions feel right.
Finding the Right Name
A name linked to a remarkable woman can give your daughter a story worth telling. If you are also searching for boy names, see our list of the most famous Ukrainian men of all time for more names with history behind them.
Hello! I’m Emma Carter, born in 1990, and a passionate child development specialist. Alongside my work, I have a deep love for helping parents discover beautiful and meaningful baby names. I believe a name is more than just a label — it’s the beginning of a child’s story. I draw inspiration from languages, cultures, traditions, and even the hidden meanings behind names to help find the perfect fit for every little one’s bright future.