Wenceslaus
title: "Wenceslaus" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["masculine-given-names", "slavic-masculine-given-names"] topic_path: "general/masculine-given-names" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wenceslaus" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::callout[type=note] the given name ::
Wenceslaus, Wenceslas, Wenzeslaus and Wenzslaus (and other similar names) are Latinized forms of the Czech name Václav. The other language versions of the name are , , , , , , among others. It originated as a Latin spelling for Czech rulers. It is a Slavic dithematic name (of two lexemes), derived from the Slavic words veli/vyache/więce/više ("great(er), large(r)"), and slava ("glory, fame") – both very common in Slavic names – and roughly means "greater glory". Latinised name Wenceslaus corresponds to several West Slavic, Lechitic given names, such as Wieceslaw, Wiecejslav, Wieńczysław/Vienceslav, Vjenceslav, Węzel, Wacław and a few more. In Lithuanian there is also the form Venckus, but only as a surname.
People named Wenceslaus or spelling variations thereof include:
- Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia (907–935 or 929), saint and subject of the Christmas carol "Good King Wenceslas"
- Wenceslaus II, Duke of Bohemia (died 1192)
- Wenceslaus of Bohemia
- Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor (1316–1378), born Wenceslaus
- Wenceslaus I of Legnica (c. 1318–1364)
- Wenceslaus I, Duke of Luxembourg (1337–1383), the first Duke
- Wenceslaus Hanka (1791–1861), Czech philologist
- Wenceslaus Hollar (1607–1677), Czech etcher
- Vaclavas Kidykas (born 1961), Lithuanian discus thrower
- Venceslau Brás (1868–1966), 9th President of Brazil
- Venceslaus Agrippa Lituanus (c. 1525–c.1597), Lithuanian writer and diplomat
- Venceslaus Ulricus Hammershaimb (1819–1909), Faroese minister and linguist
- Vjenceslav Novak (1859–1905), Croatian writer
- Vjenceslav Richter (1917–2002), Croatian architect
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