Etymology Explorer › Old Czech

Where does “Boleslav” come from?

Boleslav (Old Czech) comes from Proto-Slavic *boľьjь, from Proto-Slavic slàva, from Proto-Indo-European ḱlew-, from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- — to cover; to incline.

Ancestry of “Boleslav”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Proto-Slavic*boľьjь—
2Proto-Slavicslàvafame; glory; glory, fame
3Proto-Indo-Europeanḱlew-to hear
4Proto-Indo-Europeanḱel-to cover; to incline
Every word from Proto-Indo-European ḱel- →