Janusz

Janusz is a Polish masculine name that developed as a vernacular diminutive and independent form of Jan, the Polish equivalent of John. Jan itself derives from the Latin Iohannes, which traces back through Greek Ioannes to the Hebrew name Yohanan, meaning God is gracious. The name has been common in Poland since the medieval period and is closely associated with Polish cultural and historical identity. Related forms include Jan, Janek, and the Latinized Janus, as well as cognates across Slavic languages such as the Czech Januš.