Polish First Names

Whether you are interested in a Polish name for your new baby or you are interested in finding out more about your name, you will find a wealth of information here. Below we will talk about the history and naming traditions of Polish names as well as provide you with some inspiration lists.

We included the most popular Polish boy and girl names as well as some extras that you will find in Poland.

Origin of Polish First Names

Not a lot has changed over time when it comes to Polish given names. The given name or first name is chosen by the parents at birth. During the child’s baptism, the church encourages a second personal name of Christian origin or the name of a Patron Saint.

Confirmation is when a third name is chosen, also biblical, but is never typically used outside of being present on church documents.
There are no unisex Polish names. Most female names end in the suffix “a” while the male names tend to vary.

Polish Naming Practices

The first name and surname are the main elements used in Poland. Many of the first names chosen by parents have been around since the Middle Ages. There are no real naming restrictions except for using the feminine or masculine forms when needed.

Many parents take inspiration from pop culture when naming their children. This includes fashion, TV and book characters, or their favorite national hero.

Popular Polish Boy Names and Meanings

1. Aleksander - This is the Polish form of the Greek name “Alexander.” It means “defender of mankind.”
2. Andrzej - This is the Polish form of the Greek name “Andrew.” It means “man” or “warrior.”
3. Antoni - This is the Catalan and Polish version of the Latin name “Anthony.” It means “priceless one.”
4. Czeslaw - This popular Polish name means “glory and honor.”
5. Filip - This is the Czech and Polish form of the Greek name “Philip.” It means “horse lover.”
6. Franciszek - This is the Polish variation of the Latin name “Francis.” It means “freeman.”
7. Jakub - This is the Czech and Slovak form of “Jacob.” It means “supplanter” in Hebrew.
8. Mikolaj - This Polish name means “victory of the people.” It is also a variation of the Greek name “Nicholas.”
9. Piotr - You can find this name in several languages including Polish, Latin, and Greek. It means “rock.”
10. Stanislaw - This name is of Polish and Slavic origin. It means “glorious government.”
11. Wojciech - This popular Polish boy’s name means “he who is happy in battle.”

More  Polish Boy Names and Meanings

1. Bazyli - This Polish name means “king.”
2. Bogdan - This is a Polish and Slovak name that means “gift of God.”
3. Cerek - This Polish name means “lordly.”
4. Dobry - This is a Polish word and place name that means “good.”
5. Gerik - In Polish, this name means “wealthy spearman.”
6. Grzegorz - This is the Polish form of the Greek name “Gregory.” It means “watchman.”
7. Jacek - This name of Polish origin means “hyacinth flower.”
8. Janusz - This is a Polish variant of the name “John” and it means “God is gracious.”
9. Kazimierz - This is a classic Slavic name that means “famous destroyer of peace.”
10. Lech - Shared with the legendary founder of Poland, this name means “a pole” in Polish.
11. Ludoslaw - This Polish name means “love of glory.”
12. Marcin - This is the Polish version of the English name “Martin.” It means “God of war.”
13. Ryzard - This is the Polish form of the English name “Richard.” It means “powerful ruler.”
14. Tanek - This boy’s name of Polish origin means “he who is immortal.”
15. Tomasz - This is the Polish equivalent of the Greek name “Thomas.” It means “a twin.”
16. Urjasz - This name means “God is light” in Polish.
17. Zarek - This boy’s name means “God protect the king” in Polish.

     

Popular Polish Girl Names and Meanings

1. Agnieszka - This baby girl’s name is the Polish variant of the Greek name “Agnes.” It means “pure” or “chaste.”
2. Aleksandra - This is a Polish and Slavic name that means “defender of mankind.” It is also the feminine form of “Aleksander” as well as the Polish form of the Greek name “Alexandra.”
3. Danuta - This name means “gift from God” in Polish. It is also a variation of the Hebrew name “Danya.”
4. Elzbieta - This is the Polish form of the Hebrew baby girl name “Elizabeth.” It means “consecrated to God.”
5. Ewa - This Polish name means “full of life” or “brings life.”
6. Hanna - This popular Polish name is a variation of “Hannah” which is Hebrew for “God is merciful.”
7. Katarzyna - This name is of Czechoslovakian origin and it means “pure.”
8. Magdalena - This is the Polish and Czech form of “Magdalene.” It means “woman of Magdala” in Greek.
9. Maria - This is a popular girl’s name in Poland despite its origin. It means “drop of the sea” or “bitter” in Hebrew.
10. Zofia - This Polish name means “wisdom.”
11. Zuzanna - This Polish name is derived from the Hebrew name “Shoshana” which means “lily.”

More Polish Girl Names and Meanings

1. Alicja - This is the Polish form of the English name “Alice.” It means “noble.”
2. Basia - This is the Polish variant of the Latin name “Barbara.” It means “foreign woman.”
3. Dorota - This is used as the Polish, Czech, and Slovak version of “Dorothy,” which is Greek for “gift of God.”
4. Helena - This name has many origins including Polish and it means “shining light.”
5. Jadwiga - This Polish name means “safety in battle.”
6. Kalene - This name means “flower” in Czech and Polish.
7. Lilka - This Polish girl’s name means “warrior maiden.”
8. Olesia - This name means “defender and protector of mankind” in Polish.
9. Rasine -This is the Polish word for “rose.”
10. Tesia - This name means “loved by God” in Polish.
11. Truda - This is the Polish variant of the German name “Gertrude.” It means “spear strength.”
12. Valeska - This name is Slavic and Latin for “glorious ruler.”
13. Wislawa - This Polish name means “great glory.”
14. Zotia - This name means “one with wisdom” in Polish.

Most Popular Polish Names on FamilyEducation: Jacek, Damian, Malina, Magda