Vyacheslav, also transliterated Viacheslav or Viatcheslav ( ; ), is a Russian and Ukrainian masculine given name. It is the equivalent of Belarusian Вячаслаў/Вацлаў (transliterated Viačaslaŭ/Vaclaŭ, or Viachaslau/Vaclau), Croatian Vjenceslav, Czech Václav and Polish Wacław and Wieńczysław, which is Latinised as Wenceslaus.
It is a Slavic dithematic name (that is, composed of two lexemes) derived from the Slavic words vyache, "great(er)", and slava, "glory, fame". A common short form is Slava.
Notable people
Notable people with the given name Vyacheslav include:
Academia
Vyacheslav Ivanov (1929-2017), Russian philologist and scholar specialising in Indo-European studies Vyacheslav Ivanovich Lebedev (1930–2010), Soviet and Russian mathematician, known for his work on numerical analysis and development of the Lebedev quadrature Vyacheslav Lypynsky (1882–1931), Ukrainian historian, social and political activist who founded the Ukrainian Democratic-Agrarian Party Vyacheslav Nikonov (born 1956), Russian political scientist and the grandson of Vyacheslav Molotov, for whom he is named Vyacheslav Shokurov (born 1950, Russian mathematician best known for his research in algebraic geometry and now a full Professor at Johns Hopkins University
Arts, entertainment and literature
Vyacheslav Akhunov (born 1948), Kyrgyz-born Uzbek visual artist, and author
Vyacheslav Ivanov (1866–1949), Russian symbolist poet and philosopher
Vyacheslav Kotyonochkin, director of the 1988 Soviet animated film The Kitten from the Lizyukov street Vyacheslav Klykov (1939–2006), Russian sculptor who specialized in public monuments to key figures of national history and culture Vyacheslav Kryklyvyy, known as Slavik Kryklyvyy, Ukrainian-born ballroom dancer specialising in International Latin Vyacheslav Nevinny (1934–2009), Russian actor who worked in the Moscow Art Theatre (1959–2003) and was titled a People's Artist of the USSR in 1986 Vyacheslav Ivanovich Polunin (born 1950), better known as Slava Polunin, Russian performance artist and clown Vyacheslav Rybakov (born 1954), Soviet and Russian science fiction author Vyacheslav Shalygin (born 1968), Russian science fiction writer who completed medical school (1993) after reaching the rank of starshina in the Soviet Army Vyacheslav Spesivtsev (born 1943), Russian and Soviet actor and director of the Taganka Theatre Studio in Moscow from 1966 Vyacheslav Tikhonov (1928–2009), Soviet and Russian actor best known for his role as Soviet spy Stierlitz in the television series Seventeen Moments of Spring Vyacheslav Mikhailovich Zaitsev (1938–2023), more commonly known as Slava Zaitsev, Russian fashion designer, painter, graphic artist and theatrical costume designer Vyacheslav Khrapak (born 1988), Editor of the Journal of Thought, a biannual publication devoted to the reflective examination of educational issues and problems from the perspective of diverse disciplines.
Diplomats
Vyacheslav Dolgov (born 1937), Soviet and Russian diplomat who has served as Ambassador to Australia (1990–1994), Kazakhstan (1994–1997), Belarus (1999–2002), and Slovenia (2002–2004), and since 2005, he has been lecturing in consular law Vyacheslav Kovalenko (born 1946), Russian diplomat who is presently the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of Armenia Vyacheslav Trubnikov (born 1944), Russian journalist, political scientist, spy and diplomat who served as Director of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (1996–2000) and was appointed Ambassador to India in 2004
Military
Vyacheslav Alexandrovich Alexandrov (1968–1988), Russian-born Soviet Guards Junior Sergeant and squad commander who was killed in Afghanistan and posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Soviet Union Vyacheslav Borisov (born 1955), Russian general who commanded troops in the 2008 South Ossetian War Vyacheslav Kevorkov, KGB major general who in 2010 published a book about journalist and agent provocateur Victor Louis (1928–1992) Vyacheslav Ivanovich Zof (1889–1937), Ukrainian-born Soviet Commissar and Chief of Naval Forces of the USSR (1924–1936) Vyacheslav Zudov (born 1942), Russian-born Soviet cosmonaut who spent 2 days in space in 1976 as Commander on Soyuz 23