{{About|the given name|the public square in Prague|Wenceslas Square}}
'''Wenceslaus''', '''Wenceslas''', '''Wenzeslaus''' and '''Wenzslaus''' (and other similar names) are Latinized forms of the [[Slavic names#In Slovakia and Czech_Republic|Czech name]] [[Václav]]. The other language versions of the name are {{langx|de|[[Wenzel]]}}, {{langx|pl|[[Wacław]], Więcesław, Wieńczysław}}, {{langx|es|[[Wenceslao]]}}, {{langx|pt|Venceslau}}, {{langx|ru|[[Vyacheslav]]}}, {{langx|hr|Vjenceslav}}, {{langx|lt|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 languages|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
==See also== * [[Boleslaus]], cognate * [[Ventsislav]], Bulgarian variant * [[Višeslav]], South Slavic cognate
==External links== * {{Wikisource-inline|Wenceslaus}}
{{Given name}}
[[Category:Masculine given names]] [[Category:Slavic masculine given names]]