Sviatoslav (Russian: Святосла́в, romanized: Svjatosláv, IPA: [sʲvʲɪtɐˈslaf]; Ukrainian: Святосла́в, romanized: Svjatosláv, IPA: [sʲwʲɐtoˈslɑu̯]) is a Russian and Ukrainian given name of Slavic origin. Cognates include Svetoslav, Svatoslav, Świętosław, Svetislav. It has a Pre-Christian pagan character and means 'one who worships the light' (likely in reference to the sun). In Christian times the name's meaning started to be associated with the Proto-Slavic roots *svętъ (holy, light, world) and *slava (glory), to be explained as 'one who worships the Holy'.
A diminutive form for Sviatoslav is Svetlyo (Bulgarian), Slava (Russian), Świętek (Polish), Slavko, Sveto, Svet, Sviat, Sviatko (Ukrainian). Its feminine form is Sviatoslava. The name may refer to:
Contents
People
Monarchs
Sviatoslav I of Kiev (c. 943 – 972), prince of Kiev and Novgorod
Sviatoslav II of Kiev (1027–1076), prince of Kiev and Chernigov
Sviatoslav III of Kiev (before 1141–1194), prince of Turov (1142 and 1154), Vladimir and Volyn (1141–1146), Pinsk (1154), Novgorod-Seversky (1157–1164), Chernigov (1164–1177), Grand Prince of Kiev (1174, 1177–1180, 1182–1194)
Sviatoslav Olgovich (before 1108–1164), prince of Novgorod-Severski (1136–1138, 1139), Belgorod (1141–1154) and Chernigov (1154–1164)
Sviatoslav III of Vladimir (1196–1252), prince of Vladimir and Novgorod
Sports
Svyatoslav Syrota (born 1970), Ukrainian sport administrator and former player
Other
Svyatoslav Fyodorov (1927–2000), Russian ophthalmologist
Sviatoslav Piskun (born 1959), Ukrainian statesman
Sviatoslav Richter (1915–1997), Russian pianist
Sviatoslav Vakarchuk (born 1975), Ukrainian singer
Sviatoslav Shevchuk (born 1970), Ukrainian Catholic Patriarchate of Kyiv