Mieszko

Gender: Masculine
Origin: Polish
Meaning: debated
(MYESH-ko)

The name is often believed to be a contraction of the Slavic, Mieczysław, but other sources tend to disagree and claim that it may be related to an archaic Polish source, being a derivative of mieżka which means “blind”, related to the Polish verb mżeć meaning “to keep one’s eyes closed” or meaning “to be blind.”

The name was borne by a legendary Polish king, Mieszko I (920-942), he is credited as being the first historical ruler of Poland and is also considered the creator of the Polish State.

His adoption of Christianity in 966 is also considered the date when Poland officially became a Christian nation.

The name was borne by several other Polish kings, particularly ones from the Piast Dynesty.

In Poland, its designated name-day is January 1.

Another masculine form is Mieszka.

Other forms of the name:

• Mješko (Croatian)
• Měšek (Czech)
• Mesco (Latinized version: archaic)
• Mieško (Lithuanian)
• Meško (Slovak)