Vašek is a Czech masculine given name, serving as a diminutive of Václav. The root name Václav is itself a contraction of the older Czech name Veceslav, derived from the Slavic elements vęťĭjĭ meaning "more, greater" and slava meaning "glory." Thus, Vašek carries the affectionate sense of "little Václav" or "little greater glory." While Václav is historically significant as the name of a 10th-century Duke of Bohemia (known in English as Saint Wenceslas), the diminutive Vašek offers a more familiar, endearing form. It is commonly used in Czech-speaking regions as both a given name and a nickname. Though less historically prominent than its root, Vašek has its own modest presence in contemporary Czech culture. Notable bearers of Vašek as a given name include Vašek Klouda (born 1986), a Czech freestyle footbag player, and Vašek Svoboda (born 1990), a Czech footballer. The name also appears as a surname, as seen with Czech footballer Petr Vašek (born 1979) and tennis player Radomír Vašek (born 1972). Equivalents in other languages include Viachaslau (Belarusian) and Ventseslav (Bulgarian). Meaning: Diminutive of Václav; derived from Slavic elements meaning "more, greater" and "glory" Origin: Czech Type: Diminutive (given name) and surname Usage: Czech Republic