galinka

Galinka is a Slavic surname that appears frequently in Ukraine, Belarus, and Poland. The name is derived from the feminine given name Galina or from the root *gala*, meaning “spring” or “gala.” It is found in both literary and scientific contexts. In Ukraine the surname is borne by several notable figures, such as mathematician Petro Galinka, artist Anna Galinka, and astrophysicist Orly Galinka. In Russia Galinka occasionally serves as a diminutive form of the given name Galina used in informal speech.

The name also refers to a small village located in southeastern Kazakhstan. Historically part of the Kuban Military District during the Russian Empire, Galinka developed as a trading post for nearby Cossack settlements and later became an agricultural hub for grain and cotton. The village’s population is primarily ethnic Kazakhs and Russians, and it maintains a local administrative office and a cultural centre that showcases regional traditions.

In literature, Galinka appears as a recurring character in several 20th‑century Russian novels, where the name often symbolizes feminine strength and resilience. Ukrainian writer Oleh Petrov titled a collection of short stories “Galinka,” which received a regional literary award in 2011.

The scientific epithet *galinka* designates a few species, including the alga *Pseudococconeis galinka* and the insect *Gargantia galinka*. These organisms were named in honour of researchers with the surname Galinka. This brief entry outlines the primary uses and associations of the name Galinka.