Pronunciation [ˈvɔi̯t͡ɕɛx] | Gender male | |
Meaning He who is happy in battle Related names | ||
Wojciech ([ˈvɔi̯t͡ɕɛx] is a Polish given name, equivalent to Czech Vojtěch ([ˈvɔi̯cɛx]), Slovak Vojtech, and German Woitke. Wojciech is one of the oldest Slavic names. The name is formed from two components in archaic Polish:
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The resulting combination means "he who enjoys war" or "joyous warrior".
Its Polish diminutive forms include Wojtek (pronounced: [ˈvɔi̯tɛk]), Wojtuś ([ˈvɔi̯tuɕ]), Wojtas, Wojcio, Wojteczek, Wojcieszek, Wojtaszka, Wojtaszek, Wojan (noted already in 1136), Wojko, and variants noted as early as 1400, including Woytko, Woythko, and Voytko. The feminine form is Wojciecha ([ˈvɔi̯t͡ɕɛxa]). Related names in South Slavic languages include Vojko, Vojislav, and Vojteh.
The name has been rendered into German in several different variations, including: Woitke, Witke, Voitke, Voytke, Woytke, Vogtke, Woytegk, Woytek, Wogtke, Woetke, Wötke, and Wotke. It appears as Woyzeck in the play of that name by Georg Büchner. A variant form is Wozzeck, the result of confusion due to the similarity of the letters ⟨y⟩ and ⟨z⟩ in Sütterlin handwriting; this form is used as the name of the opera by Alban Berg, based on Büchner's play.
The Germanic name Adalbert is sometimes associated with Wojciech, or Vojtech, but the two names are not linguistically related. Their components and meanings are completely different, but the names may have become associated as a result of the 10th-century St. Adalbert of Prague (born Vojtěch Slavník) having taken the name Adalbert at his confirmation.
The name day for individuals named Wojciech is April 23.