Ctirad

Ctirad (pronounced [ˈtscɪrat]) is a Čĭstiradŭ meaning "honour" and the element radŭ meaning "happy, willing" — both of Common Slavic origin.

Mythological Significance

In Czech folklore, Ctirad is best known as the nobleman killed by Šárka during the legendary Maidens' War (Dívčí válka). According to the story, Šárka tricked Ctirad and his men by feigning distress, bound to a tree; after they rescued her, she offered them mead laced with a sleeping potion. Once the men fell asleep, the other rebel maidens slew them all. This tale, recorded in the medieval Chronicle of Dalimil and later popularized by the writer Alois Jirásek, remains a cornerstone of Czech national mythology. The dramatic scene is also captured in the well-known sculpture Ctirad and Šárka by Josef Václav Myslbek (now at Vyšehrad in Prague).

Name Days, Variants, and Usage

The nameday for Ctirad in the Czech calendar is 16 January. Common nicknames include Ctišek, Ctíša, Radek, Ctírek, Rado, and Cheš. While the name was rare for much of the 20th century, it has seen periodic revival as a traditional Slavic choice.

Notable Bearers

• Ctirad Benáček (1924–1999), Czech basketball player
• Ctirad Jungmann (born 1959), Czech rower
• Ctirad Kohoutek (1929–2011), Czech composer, music theorist, and pedagogue
• Ctirad Mašín (1930–2011), Czech resistance fighter against the communist regime, part of the Mašín brothers' group
• Ctirad Ovčáčík (born 1984), Czech ice hockey player
• Ctirad Uher, Czech physicist at the University of Michigan

Etymology

The name is derived from the Old Slavic elements čist meaning "honour" (also related to čest, "proper, pure" within unspoken vow), a compound meaning literally "honour happiness" or "happy with honour". The Polish equivalent is Czcirad, though rarer.

• Meaning: "honour-happy" (Slavic elements čĭstĭ + radŭ)
• Origin: Slavic (Old Czech / Old Church Slavonic)
• Type: Given name
• Usage regions: Czech Republic (also Poland as Czcirad)
• Nameday: Czech: 16 January