Name «Vadym»

Most onomastic researchers believe that Vadym is a shortened version of the Proto-Slavic name Vadimirъ. The first component of this name comes from the verb vaditi(ся), which means "to prevent, obstruct, argue." Some researchers suggest that this name is a phonetic variant of the name Vladimir (see Knappová 177; Grzenia 316).

The final -m in this name is likely a remnant of the second component -mirъ, similar to how the final -s in the name Boris is a remnant from Borisław, and the final -m in the name Ladym is from Vladimir (see Гр IV 550).

The root Vad- is found not only among Ukrainians, but also among Czechs (for example, the names Vadislav, Vadslav), Poles (for example, Rozwad), and Russians. Bulgarian researchers believe that the name Vadym entered their language from Russia (see Ильчев 99).

The name Vadym is mentioned in all contemporary name dictionaries of Ukrainians (for example, ВІЛ 44; Belей 57). However, it has never been very popular in Ukraine (see Свистун 9). For instance, among 509 students at the Peremyshl Ukrainian Gymnasium in 1938, only two bore the name Vadym (see Грицак 232).

Related Surnames and Microtoponymy
It is likely that the name Vadym is connected with the Transcarpathian surnames Vadyun, Vadyunyk, and Vadyak, which have been noted since the early 17th century (see Чу Прізв. 105). The name Vadimir is also recorded in microtoponymy (see Купч. Стат. 200).