Radkova

Radkova is a Bulgarian surname, representing a feminine form of the surname Radkov. In Bulgarian and other Slavic languages, surnames often take a -ova suffix for women, following the pattern of patronymic or family names. The masculine form Radkov means "son of Radko," indicating that the name ultimately derives from a given name Radko. Radko itself originated as a diminutive of names incorporating the Slavic element radŭ meaning "happy, willing", a common root in many early Slavic personal names.

The suffix -ova is characteristic of Bulgarian and other South Slavic languages, such as Serbian and Macedonian, where female surnames are gendered by adding -ova (or -eva) to the male form. This tradition highlights grammatical gender agreement in Slavic naming conventions. While Radkova is most frequently encountered in Bulgaria, bearers may also be found in diaspora communities or neighboring countries with Bulgarian populations. Related ancestral variants include Radko as a given name, along with other derived surnames like Radkov, Radić, or Radović across the Slavic world.