Radosław

Radosław is built from two old Slavic roots. The first, rado, means glad or joyful. The second, sław, means glory or fame. Put together they read as happy glory, or in Polish radujący się sławą, one who takes joy in renown.

The name keeps a small family of forms nearby. There is the feminine Radosława, and the short forms Radka and Rada, which fold the long official version down into something a friend would call across a room.

Poland gives it a name-day, so every Radosław has his own date on the calendar. Picture the class register on the first day of school, the teacher working down the list and reaching the given name. Short, then.

Rado still means glad, and sław still means glory. The child who signs a form at the urząd is writing a word that once meant happy glory.