Male Polish names are a separate branch of the cultural heritage that came to us from the depths of time. It is an integral part of national traditions.
Currently, Polish law sets a limit on the number of names given to the child both at birth and during the formation of his personality. For example, after birth, parents can call their baby two names. Later, at the age of 9-10 years, during the first sacrament, the child himself can choose his third account. It is traditionally chosen in honor of the famous saint, who is considered worthy to follow. Such a name defines the heavenly patron of the child, therefore it is not used in everyday life. However, this name is also not included in various official documents.
Polish male names are often chosen according to Catholic Christmas time. In addition, not only church, but also family traditions play an important role . In this regard, you can often find nicknames that come from Greek, Jewish or Latin cultures. If we talk about borrowing, then immediately we can distinguish an active mixture with the Slavic traditions of naming. At the same time, nicknames from pre-Christian times and names that appeared later are found with the same frequency.
Polish culture is replete with nicknames of German, Lithuanian, Aramaic, English, French and Italian origin. As often happens, the names of Polish men developed under the influence of wars, revolutions and other confrontations, which were the main reason for the mixing of the values of several peoples. Of course, modern parents can choose any nickname that, in their opinion, will most closely correspond to their child. However, one should take into account the fact that the legislation requires that male Polish names unambiguously determine the gender of the child. At the same time, it’s interesting that in Poland the name Mary can be worn by both girls and boys! Nevertheless, the second case is more likely an exception to the rule.
Their characteristic and even distinctive feature can be called the fact that the Polish names of boys have a fairly large number of diminutive and affectionate nicknames. This was made possible thanks to the rich word-formation tools that are inherent in the Polish language. For example, a boy named Yakub can be called both Yakubek and even Kubus. Such use is typical for family members and close friends. At the same time, the age of the man does not matter at all.
Polish male names are used far beyond the borders of the state. Such processes are connected with the fact that Polish culture influenced not only neighboring countries, but even other continents. For example, at one time there was a large number of emigrants from Poland to North America. They sacredly honored and protected the traditions of their ancestors, even away from their native land.