Need a Polish name for a character, a game or a story? This Polish name generator gives you a fresh list of Polish first names and surnames in one click. Choose male, female or both, pick how many names you want, and copy the ones you like.
Polish names are easy to get wrong if you only know them from English. Surnames can change for women (Kowalski becomes Kowalska), almost every first name has a nickname (Katarzyna is Kasia), and letters like ł, ą and ę change how a name is spelled and said. Under the tool you will find 40 Polish names with meanings, nicknames and pronunciation, a guide to surnames, and tips for matching a name to a character’s age and setting.
Polish names at a glance
- Surnames: -ski, -cki and -dzki become -ska, -cka and -dzka for women. Surnames like Nowak and Wójcik stay the same.
- Nicknames: Jan becomes Janek, Katarzyna becomes Kasia, Aleksandra becomes Ola.
- Stress: it almost always falls on the second-to-last syllable.
- Spelling: keep letters like ł, ą, ę, ś and ż. Michał and Michal are not the same spelling.
- Name days: many Poles celebrate their imieniny, the day linked to their first name.
How to Use the Generator
- Choose Male, Female or Male & Female.
- Choose how many names you want.
- Click Generate Names, and click again whenever you want a fresh list.
- Copy a single name or use Copy all. You can also mix and match: keep a first name you like and swap the surname from the lists below.
For a story or game, think about when and where your character lives. A farmer in a 1920s village would more likely be Stanisław or Władysław than Kamil, and a teenager born in the 2010s is far more likely to be Zuzanna or Antoni than Grażyna. Want names from other countries? Browse all our name generators by country, or try the German name generator for a neighbouring culture.
How Polish Names Are Built
A Polish person normally has one or two given names and one surname. The UK government’s country guidance for Poland describes names as having up to two forenames and one surname, and surnames can be double-barrelled.
Three features make Polish names different from English ones, and they are worth knowing if you want your characters to feel authentic:
- Gendered surnames. Many surnames have a masculine and a feminine form.
- Nicknames are a whole system. Almost every name has an everyday short form and an affectionate form.
- Name days (imieniny). Each calendar day is linked to one or more first names, and people celebrate their name day with cards, flowers and wishes, often as much as a birthday.
Polish Male Names with Meanings and Nicknames
| Name | Meaning / origin | Common nicknames | Pronunciation (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | Hebrew, “God is gracious” (John) | Janek, Jasiek | YAHN |
| Piotr | Greek, “rock” (Peter) | Piotrek | PYOTR |
| Wojciech | Slavic, “joy of battle” or “warrior’s comfort” | Wojtek | VOY-chekh |
| Michał | Hebrew, “who is like God” | Michałek, Misiek | MEE-khaw |
| Mateusz | Hebrew, “gift of God” (Matthew) | Mateuszek, Matys | mah-TEH-oosh |
| Jakub | Hebrew, “supplanter” (Jacob) | Kuba | YAH-koob |
| Krzysztof | Greek, “bearer of Christ” | Krzyś, Krzysiek | KSHISH-tof |
| Andrzej | Greek, “manly” (Andrew) | Jędrek | AHN-jay |
| Stanisław | Slavic, “to become glorious” | Staszek, Stasiek | stah-NEE-swahf |
| Łukasz | Latin, “from Lucania” (Luke) | Łuki | WOO-kahsh |
| Tomasz | Aramaic, “twin” (Thomas) | Tomek | TOH-mahsh |
| Paweł | Latin, “small” (Paul) | Pawełek | PAH-vew |
| Marcin | Latin, “of Mars” (Martin) | Marcinek | MAR-cheen |
| Bartosz | Aramaic, “son of Talmai” | Bartek | BAR-tosh |
| Grzegorz | Greek, “watchful” (Gregory) | Grzesiek | GZHEH-gozh |
| Szymon | Hebrew, “he has heard” (Simon) | Szymek | SHIH-mon |
| Wiktor | Latin, “victor” | Wiktorek | VEEK-tor |
| Kazimierz | Slavic, “one who commands peace” | Kazik | kah-ZEE-myesh |
| Bogdan | Slavic, “given by God” | Bodzio | BOG-dahn |
| Zbigniew | Slavic, “to dispel anger” | Zbyszek | ZBEEG-nyef |
| Władysław | Slavic, “ruling with glory” | Władek | vwah-DIH-swahf |
Polish Female Names with Meanings and Nicknames
| Name | Meaning / origin | Common nicknames | Pronunciation (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anna | Hebrew, “grace” | Ania, Anka | AH-nah |
| Zofia | Greek, “wisdom” (Sophia) | Zosia | ZO-fyah |
| Katarzyna | Greek, “pure” (Catherine) | Kasia | kah-tah-ZHIH-nah |
| Agnieszka | Greek, “pure” (Agnes) | Aga, Agusia | ahg-NYESH-kah |
| Aleksandra | Greek, “defender of mankind” | Ola, Olka | ah-lek-SAHN-drah |
| Magdalena | “from Magdala” | Magda, Madzia | mahg-dah-LEH-nah |
| Joanna | Hebrew, “God is gracious” | Asia, Joasia | yo-AH-nah |
| Ewa | Hebrew, “life” (Eve) | Ewka | EH-vah |
| Maria | Hebrew, of uncertain meaning | Marysia, Mania | MAH-ryah |
| Jadwiga | Germanic, “battle” | Jadzia | yahd-VEE-gah |
| Małgorzata | Greek, “pearl” (Margaret) | Gosia, Małgosia | mahw-go-ZHAH-tah |
| Barbara | Greek, “foreign” | Basia | bar-BAH-rah |
| Elżbieta | Hebrew, “God is my oath” | Ela, Beta | el-ZHBYEH-tah |
| Dorota | Greek, “gift of God” | Dorotka | doh-ROH-tah |
| Weronika | Greek origin, linked to Berenice, “bringer of victory” | Wera, Werka | veh-roh-NEE-kah |
| Halina | Slavic, of debated origin | Hala, Halinka | hah-LEE-nah |
| Krystyna | Greek/Latin, “follower of Christ” | Krysia | krih-STIH-nah |
| Danuta | Lithuanian origin | Danusia, Dana | dah-NOO-tah |
| Grażyna | A literary name coined by poet Adam Mickiewicz in 1823 | Grażynka | grah-ZHIH-nah |
| Zuzanna | Hebrew, “lily” (Susanna) | Zuzia | zoo-ZAH-nah |
Names by Era: Which Name Fits Your Character?
Polish naming fashions have shifted a lot, and picking the right era is the fastest way to make a character feel real.
- Medieval and early history: Bolesław, Mieszko, Dobrawa, Jadwiga. These are strongly Slavic and associated with royalty and chronicles.
- Older generations (born roughly 1930s to 1960s): Stanisław, Władysław, Zbigniew, Krystyna, Halina, Danuta, Grażyna.
- Born in the 1970s to 1990s: Piotr, Krzysztof, Andrzej, Tomasz, Marcin, Katarzyna, Agnieszka, Małgorzata, Magdalena.
- Recent generations: Antoni, Jan, Aleksander, Franciszek, Zuzanna, Zofia, Hanna, Julia, Maja.
These are broad tendencies, not hard rules. For exact, current rankings, the Polish government publishes data on names given to children in Poland on dane.gov.pl.
Polish Surnames, Meanings and Gender Forms
Most Polish surnames grew out of occupations, nicknames, places, trees, animals and personal names. Other Slavic languages work in a similar way: Russian surnames also change by gender, as in Ivanov and Ivanova, which you can see in our Russian name generator. For real-world frequency of Polish surnames, the Polish government publishes surname statistics from the PESEL register.
| Surname (male) | Female form | Meaning / origin |
|---|---|---|
| Kowalski | Kowalska | from kowal, “blacksmith” |
| Wiśniewski | Wiśniewska | from wiśnia, “cherry” |
| Dąbrowski | Dąbrowska | from dąb, “oak” |
| Zieliński | Zielińska | from zielony, “green” |
| Lewandowski | Lewandowska | place-based, from villages such as Lewandowo |
| Kamiński | Kamińska | from kamień, “stone”, or place names |
| Szymański | Szymańska | from the given name Szymon |
| Kozłowski | Kozłowska | from kozioł, “billy goat”, or place names |
| Jankowski | Jankowska | from the given name Jan |
| Kwiatkowski | Kwiatkowska | from kwiat, “flower” |
| Grabowski | Grabowska | from grab, “hornbeam tree” |
| Nowicki | Nowicka | from nowy, “new” |
Surnames That Do Not Change
A common mistake in fiction is to force -ska onto every woman. Many surnames, especially those not ending in -ski, -cki or -dzki, stay the same for men and women:
| Surname | Meaning / origin |
|---|---|
| Nowak | from nowy, “new”; one of the most common Polish surnames |
| Wójcik | from wójt, a village head |
| Woźniak | from woźnica, “carter” or “coachman” |
| Krawczyk | from krawiec, “tailor” |
| Mazur | a person from Mazovia |
| Kaczmarek | from karczmarz, “innkeeper” |
So a woman named Anna Nowak is correct. Anna Nowakowa is an old, traditional “wife of Nowak” form you may meet in historical writing.
Plural Family Names
If your story mentions a whole family, the plural of Kowalski is Kowalscy and the plural of Nowicki is Nowiccy. Surnames like Nowak take -owie, so “the Nowaks” is Nowakowie.
Example Full Names
| Male | Female | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| Jan Kowalski | Anna Kowalska | classic and very common |
| Piotr Wiśniewski | Katarzyna Wiśniewska | mainstream modern |
| Stanisław Dąbrowski | Halina Dąbrowska | older generation |
| Antoni Zieliński | Zofia Zielińska | young, fashionable today |
| Marcin Nowak | Agnieszka Nowak | no gender change in surname |
| Wojciech Kamiński | Jadwiga Kamińska | traditional, historical feel |
How to Pronounce Polish Names
Polish stress almost always falls on the second-to-last syllable: ko-VAL-ski, vish-NYEF-ski. That single rule fixes most mistakes.
| Letters | Sound | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ł | “w” as in water | Łukasz = WOO-kahsh |
| w | “v” | Wojciech = VOY-chekh |
| j | “y” as in yes | Jan = YAHN |
| ó | “oo” (same as u) | Wójcik = VOOY-cheek |
| rz and ż | like the “s” in measure | Grzegorz = GZHEH-gozh |
| sz | “sh” | Szymon = SHIH-mon |
| cz | “ch” as in chair | Czesław = CHEH-swahf |
| ch | “h” (like Scottish loch) | Michał = MEE-khaw |
| ś, si | soft “sh” | Wiśniewski = vish-NYEF-ski |
| ć, ci | soft “ch” | Maciej = MAH-chyay |
| ą | nasal “on” | Dąbrowski = dom-BROF-ski |
| ę | nasal “en” | Węgrzyn = VEN-gzhin |
| ń, ni | soft “ny” | Kamiński = kah-MEEN-ski |
These are English approximations. For a name in an audiobook, film or podcast, ask a Polish speaker or use a Polish pronunciation dictionary.
Keep the Polish Letters
Michał and Michal are not the same spelling. Letters like ł, ą, ę, ś, ć, ń, ó, ź and ż are part of the Polish alphabet. If your site, game or font supports them, keep them. If you must remove them (for usernames or URLs, for example), do it consistently: ł becomes l, ą becomes a, ę becomes e, and so on.
Why Nicknames Matter for Characters
Polish nicknames show relationships. A character called Katarzyna in a formal meeting, Kasia by friends and Kasieńka by her grandmother tells readers a lot without a word of description.
- Formal: the full name, used by officials, in business and with strangers.
- Everyday short form: Kasia, Piotrek, Ola.
- Affectionate form: Kasieńka, Piotruś, Olusia. These are used by family, partners and close friends.
Using the wrong level, such as a boss calling an employee by an affectionate diminutive in a formal scene, would feel odd to Polish readers. Keep in mind that nicknames are for everyday life: when registering a birth in Poland, registry officials generally do not accept a diminutive form as a child’s official first name.
Name Days (Imieniny)
In Poland, every first name sits on a calendar day. For example, Jan is traditionally celebrated on 24 June and Anna on 26 July. People are congratulated on their name day, and some families celebrate it as much as the birthday. If you write a Polish character, adding a name-day scene is a simple way to make the setting feel lived-in. Check a Polish calendar for the exact date of the name you choose.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Forcing -ska onto surnames like Nowak or Wójcik.
- Using only English-friendly names (Peter, Anna) with no nicknames.
- Dropping diacritics in a published name.
- Giving an elderly character a very recent name like Maja, or a teenager a name like Zbigniew without a reason (a family naming tradition, for instance).
- Using an affectionate diminutive in a formal scene.
A Note on Real Naming and Legal Use
The generator creates fictional combinations. For a real baby, a name change, or an official record, check current guidance from the Polish civil registry office (Urząd Stanu Cywilnego). The Polish Language Council (Rada Języka Polskiego) publishes advice on names and usage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common Polish surnames?
Nowak and Kowalski are among the most common, followed by names such as Wiśniewski, Wójcik, Kowalczyk and Kamiński. You can check current numbers in the PESEL surname data.
How do Polish women’s surnames work?
If a surname ends in -ski, -cki or -dzki, the feminine form ends in -ska, -cka or -dzka. Other surnames, such as Nowak or Wójcik, usually stay the same.
What is a Polish nickname for Katarzyna?
Kasia is the most common, with Kasieńka as an affectionate form.
What does the letter ł sound like?
It sounds like the English “w”, so Łukasz is pronounced roughly “WOO-kahsh”.
Can I use these names in a book or game?
Yes. They are fine for fiction, games and scripts. Match the name to the character’s age and setting, and keep the Polish spelling where you can.
Are the generated names real people?
No. Names are combined at random, so any match with a real person is a coincidence.
Sources
- UK Government, Poland Knowledge Base profile (name formats)
- Rada Języka Polskiego (Polish Language Council)
- dane.gov.pl, Polish government open data: names given to children and PESEL surname statistics
- gov.pl, registering a child’s birth (official first-name registration)
- e-prawnik.pl, how to register a birth (rules on choosing a child’s first name)