Wenceslaus and Wenceslas (and other similar) are Latinized forms of the Slavic name (in different forms) Czech: Václav, Polish: Wacław, Więcesław, Russian: Vyacheslav, Croatian: Vjenceslav, among others. It originated as a Latin spelling for West Slavic 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. It roughly means "greater glory". It may refer to:
People
Saint Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia (907–935 or 929), and subject of a Christmas carol
Wenceslaus II, Duke of Bohemia (died 1192)
Wenceslaus I of Bohemia (c. 1205–1253), King of Bohemia
Wenceslaus II of Bohemia (1271–1305), King of Bohemia and Poland
Wenceslaus III of Bohemia (1289–1306), King of Hungary, Bohemia, and Poland
Wenceslaus IV of Bohemia (1361–1419), King of Bohemia, and German King
Wenceslaus I of Legnica (ca. 1318 – 1364)
Wenceslaus I, Duke of Luxembourg (1337–1383), the first Duke
Charles IV, Holy Roman Emperor (1316–1378), born Wenceslaus
Wenceslas Hollar (1607–1677), Bohemian etcher
Wenceslaus Hanka (1791–1861), Bohemian philologist
Rafael Wenceslao Núñez Moledo (1825–1894), 13th President of Colombia
Venceslaus Ulricus Hammershaimb (1819–1909), Faroese minister and linguist
Venceslau Brás (1868–1966), 9th President of Brazil
Prince Wenceslas of Nassau (born 1957)
Prince Wenzeslaus of Liechtenstein (born 1974).
Vjenceslav Richter (1917–2002), Croatian architect
Vjenceslav Novak (1859–1905), Croatian writer
Placenames
Wenceslas Square, a public square in Prague
Wenceslas Mine, Lower Silesia, now in Poland
Other
"Good King Wenceslas", a popular Christmas carol
