Janusz

Janusz is a Polish masculine name that developed as a vernacular diminutive and independent form of Jan, the Polish equivalent of John, itself derived from the Hebrew Yohanan meaning God is gracious. The name has been used in Poland since the medieval period and became particularly associated with Polish identity and culture. Notable bearers include Janusz Korczak, the celebrated Polish-Jewish educator and children's author who died in the Holocaust. Related forms include Jan, Janek, and the Latinized Janus sometimes found in historical records.