Etymology and OriginZelenko is a Ukrainian surname deriving from the word zeleny (зелений), meaning "green." It is the Ukrainian cognate of the Polish surname Zieliński, which originates from the Polish word for green, zieleń. Historically, such names likely arose as nicknames for individuals who habitually wore green clothing or had some association with the color green.Notable BearersNotable individuals with this surname include Yekaterina Zelenko (1916–1941), a Ukrainian fighter pilot and the only woman to fly an aerial ramming attack, and Vladimir Zelenko (1973–2022), a Ukrainian-American physician involved in COVID-19 treatments. Other bearers include Alexander Zelenko (1871–1953), a Russian architect; Herbert Zelenko (1906–1979), an American politician; and Paula Zelenko (born 1957), an American politician.Related NamesThroughout Slavic languages, analogous surnames exist, such as Czech Zelenka and its feminine form Zelenková, as well as Polish Zielińska. In Lithuanian, the equivalents include Žilinskas, its feminine form Žilinskienė, and the patronymic-like Žilinskaitė.