The Lithuanians: ETYMOLOGY: LITHUANIAN FIRST NAMES - Vitas and Vytautas

Recently I read an article about "Vytautas" and a claim that "Vitas" is the same name.

.Not so. These two Lithuanian first names have a different and distinct Etymology.

.Vitas is from Latin Vitus and the word vita = means life.

Vytautas is from Lithuanian and has a short form Vytas, Vytis. The name comes from two words "viti" to defend, protect and "tauta" people, nation. The compound may result in "defender of the nation or people." Vytautas was Lithuania's most famous Grand Duke.

Someone with the given name Vytautas would never like to be called Vitas. You can see the reason why.

.If you wish to see more Lithuanian names [about 3,500] and the etymology of several hundred, visit our website thelithuanians.com at the NAMES tab.

.I researched the names from a dictionary of Lithuanian First Names.
http://www.thelithuanians.com/names/name2v.html

.Let this resource be your guide to many interesting facts

http://www.thelithuanians.com/