Quick answer
Vlad is a boy name meaning "to rule, to control".
Pronunciation: Russian /ˈvɫat/; Ukrainian /ˈwɫad/.
Meaning and history
Old short form of Vladislav and other names beginning with the Slavic element volděti (Church Slavic vladati ) meaning "to rule, to control". This name was borne by several princes of Wallachia (in Romania) including the 15th-century Vlad III Dracula, who was Bram Stoker's inspiration for the name of his vampire Count Dracula.
Notes and context
Usage: romanian, russian, ukrainian | Russian: Влад