Mieszko

Boy · Old Polish (origin disputed)

Mieszko

Say it: MYESH-koh

Meaning

Name of the first historical Polish ruler; it is variously explained as a pet form of Mieczysław or Michał, or from miech 'bag', and no explanation is agreed.

Disputedsharp disagreement, or a popular meaning that is not supported.

Borne by Mieszko I, baptised in 966, and several later Piasts; occasionally revived today.

Its wave through time

No birth counts are recorded for this name in the records loaded here: it has been given to fewer than five babies a year, or not at all, since records began.

Through the ages

Used by

Polish

The family of the name

Czech	Měšek
Latin	Misico

Famous bearers

Mieszko I, first Christian ruler of Poland

Names worth a look

RadomirBoyFrom Slavic rad 'glad, eager' and mir 'peace, world' (some scholars think -mir in old names first reflected Germanic…Early Medieval · forgotten

ZiemowitBoyName of a legendary Piast ruler; the elements are often read as ziemia 'land' or sěmь 'family' with vit 'lord', but…Early Medieval · forgotten

ValeriusBoyRoman family name from valere 'to be strong, healthy'.Rome

MarianusBoyDerived from Marius. Christians later associated it with the Virgin Mary.Rome

SeverinusBoyDerived from Severus 'stern, serious'.Rome

CassianusBoyDerived from Cassius.Rome

MosesBoyProbably from Egyptian msj 'born of, son', as in Thutmose. Exodus 2:10 links it to Hebrew mashah 'to draw out', a…Biblical · peak 1880

MoisesBoyPopular nowpeak 2001

Where this comes from

Medieval Slavic chronicles and charters
Royal and noble genealogies

Meanings and histories are compiled from the study of names and their languages and checked by a second review.

Meanings and histories are drawn from the study of names and their languages, each with a confidence rating; popularity figures come from official birth records. Name histories are a living field: if you know of a correction, we would be glad to hear it.