What does Vladimir mean?
Vladimir joins the Slavic for “rule” and “peace” or “great,” “famous ruler.”
What does Boris mean?
Boris is usually linked to the Slavic for “battle” or “fight.”
Vladimir vs Boris
Which is more popular?
Vladimir is more popular than Boris today: about 87 US babies were given the name Vladimir in 2025, compared with 37 named Boris.
| Vladimir | Boris | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Ruler of peace | Battle, fight |
| Origin | Slavic | Slavic |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | VLAD-ee-meer | BOR-iss |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1913 | 1911 |
| Peak year | 2016 (180) | 1970 (82) |
| In 2025 | 87 | 37 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Vladimir
Boris
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Vladimir | Boris |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 606 | 230 |
| 2010s | 1,583 | 507 |
| 2000s | 1,369 | 581 |
| 1990s | 967 | 603 |
| 1980s | 605 | 401 |
| 1970s | 437 | 481 |
| 1960s | 166 | 597 |
| 1950s | 95 | 287 |
| 1940s | 19 | 111 |
| 1930s | 81 | 237 |
| 1920s | 152 | 373 |
| 1910s | 110 | 213 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Vladimir or Boris more popular?
Vladimir is more popular than Boris today: about 87 US babies were given the name Vladimir in 2025, compared with 37 named Boris.
What is the difference between Vladimir and Boris?
Vladimir means Ruler of peace (Slavic origin), while Boris means Battle, fight (Slavic origin).
Which name is older, Vladimir or Boris?
In US records, Vladimir first appears in 1913 and Boris in 1911, so Boris has the longer recorded history.