Date
Meaning & History
Coined by Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz for the titular character of one of his early works. It is uncertain where he found the inspiration for this name. One theory derives this name from Lithuanian žygiuoti "to move; to march" and viltis "hope", while other scholars believe this name to be a much-mangled form of Zizili, the name of an obscure fertility goddess of whom nothing else is known; should the name indeed be derived from Zizili, then its meaning would be lost. Yet another theory considers this name to be based on Żywie or Żywia.