Radu is a name derived from the Slavic word for "joy". In 2009, Radu was the 43rd most popular name among Romanian boys in the modern state of Romania^[1] and Moldova.^{[citation needed]}.

According to Romanian traditions, Negru Vodă would have been the founder and ruler of Wallachia at a date around 1290. The legend was first mentioned in the 17th-century Cantacuzino Annals, which also state that the prince built large churches in Câmpulung and Curtea de Argeș, successive capitals of Wallachia. This is probably a confusion with Radu I of Wallachia, who reigned 1377–1383. Legends surrounding Meșterul Manole also mention Negru Vodă as the commissioner of the church and blend his image with that of Neagoe Basarab, who ruled at a much later date than Radu I.

In various folk traditions and legends, Negru Vodă's image blends with that of the following rulers:

• Thocomerius, father of Basarab I
• Basarab I (c. 1270–1351/52), Great Voivode of Wallachia
• Nicolae Alexandru, Voivode of Wallachia (c. 1352 – 1364)
• Radu I, Voivode of Wallachia (c. 1377 – c. 1383)
• Neagoe Basarab, Voivode of Wallachia (1512-1521)

• Curtea de Argeș Cathedral
• Foundation of Wallachia

• Neagu Djuvara: Thocomerius-Negru Vodă, un voivod de origine cumană la începuturile Țării Românești: cum a purces întemeierea primului stat medieval românesc dinainte de "descălecătoare" și până la așezarea Mitropoliei Ungrovlahiei la Argeș: noi interpretări/Thocomerius - Negru Vodă: a voivode of Cumanian origin at the beginning of Wallachia: how the foundation of the first medieval Romanian state began before "dismounting" and until the settlement of the Metropolitanate of Ungrovlahia in Argeș: new interpretations, Editura Humanitas, București, 2007, ISBN 978-9735017873

• Basarabii: Radu Negru (Black) (in Romanian)