// Workers AI · dad joke modeDid Wenceslaus go to the party? He slew the dance floor.

This article is about the given name. For the public square in Prague, see Wenceslas Square.

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 German: Wenzel, Polish: Wacław, Więcesław, Wieńczysław, Spanish: Wenceslao, Portuguese: Venceslau, Russian: Vyacheslav, Croatian: Vjenceslav, Lithuanian: Vaclavas, Vaclovas, Venclovas 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, 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
• Venceslaus Agrippa Lituanus (c. 1525–c.1597), Lithuanian writer and diplomat
• Venceslaus Ulricus Hammershaimb (1819–1909), Faroese minister and linguist

See also

• Boleslaus, cognate
• Ventsislav, Bulgarian variant
• Višeslav, South Slavic cognate

External links

• Works related to Wenceslaus at Wikisource