Růžička is a Czech surname, with the feminine form Růžičková. It is a diminutive of růže, meaning "rose," and thus translates to "little rose." The Slovak variant is Ružička (feminine Ružičková). Etymology The surname belongs to a widespread European family of names derived from the rose flower. Cognates include Italian Rosa, Dutch Roosa, Jewish Rose, French Desrosiers, and Spanish Rosales. The Czech suffix -ička indicates a diminutive, so Růžička literally means "little rose," perhaps originally a nickname for a person who loved roses or lived near rose bushes. Notable Bearers Many individuals with this surname have achieved recognition in sports and arts. Notable examples include: Adam Ružička (born 1999), Slovak ice hockey player Hana Růžičková (1941–1981), Czech gymnast Helena Růžičková (1936–2004), Czech actress Josef Růžička (1925–1986), Czech wrestler Karel Růžička (pianist) (1940–2016), Czech pianist Roman Ružička (born 1941), Slovak lawyer and politician Vladimír Růžička (born 1963), Czech ice hockey player and head coach Zuzana Růžičková (1927–2017), Czech harpsichordist Cultural Significance The rose is a symbol of love, beauty, and perfection in European culture, and the surname Růžička reflects its endearment as a "little rose." It is predominantly found in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Meaning: "little rose" in Czech Origin: Czech and Slovak Type: Surname (also feminine form Růžičková) Usage Regions: Czech Republic, Slovakia