Vaněk is a Czech language surname that is a diminutive of the name Václav or Veceslav, which means "greater glory", from the Old Slavic elements viece "greater" and slav "glory". Alternative spellings of the name include Vaněk, Vaňková, Vankova, Waniek and Wanek. The name may refer to:Chase Wright Vanek, American actor
Danuta Waniek, Polish politician and academic teacher
Connie Wanek, American poet
František Vaněk (1931–2020), Czech ice hockey player
Henryk Waniek, Polish artist, stage-set designer
Herbert Waniek (1897–1949), Austrian stage actor, theatrical producer and impresario
Jan Vaněk, Czech athlete
Jaroslav Vanek (1930–2017), American economist
Jean-Pierre Vanek, Luxembourgian footballer
Jiří Vaněk (tennis), Czech tennis player
Joe Vaněk, British opera designer and director
Karel Vaněk (1895–1958), Czech chess master
Kateřina Vaňková, Czech tennis player
Ludmila Vaňková, Czech writer
Margit Vanek, Hungarian athlete
Marilyn Nelson Waniek, American poet and translator
Miroslav Wanek, Czech writer
Ollie Vanek (1908–2000), American baseball player and manager
Ondřej Vaněk, Czech footballer
Richard Vaněk, Czech footballer
Ronald G. Wanek, American businessman
Šárka Vaňková, Czech singer
Thomas Vanek, Austrian ice hockey player
Todd R. Wanek, American businessman
Zdeněk Vaněk, Czech handball player