Famous bearers: Jaroslav Vojta-Jurný, actor Jaroslav Dietl, writer Jaroslav Dudek, director and dramatist Jaroslav Durych, poet, dramatist, publicist, theologist and doctor Jaroslav Dušek, actor Jaroslav Foglar, author Jaroslav Hašek, author Jaroslav Heyrovský, chemist, bearer of Nobel prize Jaroslav Holík, hockey player Jaroslav Hrbáček, hydrobiologist Jaroslav Ježek, composer Jaroslav Křička, composer, dirigent, pedagogue and publicist Jaroslav Marvan, actor Jaroslav Moučka, actor Jaroslav Plašil, footballer Jaroslav Rudiš, author Jaroslav Satoranský, hockey player Jaroslav Seifert, poet, bearer of Nobel prize Jaroslav Svěcený, violinist Jaroslav Špaček, hockey player Jaroslav Vrchlický (real name was Emil Frída), author and poet Jaroslav Vozáb, interpreter and actor Jára Kohout, actor and singer Jára Pospíšil, actor and singer Jára (da) Cimrman, fictional character of universal Czech genius, created by Jiří Šebánek and Zdeněk Svěrák
Jaroslav Ježek: composer, pianist and conductor, author of jazz, classical, incidental and film music; 25th September 1906 Praha – 1st January 1942 New York.
To derive such names as Jaroslav or Jaromír etc. from the word "jaro" is common misconception even among Czechs. Actually it comes from old Czech word "jarý", which means strong and bold. Word "jaro" really does mean "spring" but, only in !modern! Czech language, so it has (and can not have) nothing to do with the origin of these antique names. So e.g. Jaroslav we can correctly explain as "famous for his strength." And by the way Jaroslav is my father's name. :) [noted -ed]