View source for Bulgarian name

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{{More citations needed|date=May 2021}}
{{Bulgarians}}
The '''Bulgarian name system''' ([[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]]: Българска именна система) has considerable similarities with most other [[Europe]]an name systems, and with those of other [[Slavic peoples]] such as the [[Eastern Slavic naming customs|Russian]] name system, although it has certain unique features.

Bulgarian names usually consist of a [[given name]], which comes first, a [[patronymic]], which is second (and is usually omitted when referring to the person), and a [[family name]], which comes last.

==Bulgarian given names==
Traditionally, the Bulgarian given names are either of [[Slavic names|Slavic origin]] or from [[Greek language|Greek]], [[Latin]] or [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] when reflecting [[Christianity|Christian]] faith (e.g. [[Peter (first name)|Petar]], [[Mary (mother of Jesus)|Maria]], [[John (name)|Ivan]], [[Theodora (given name)|Teodora]], [[George (given name)|Georgi]], [[Nicholas|Nikolay]], [[Michael (given name)|Mihail]], [[Paraskevi (disambiguation)|Paraskeva]], [[Dimitar]]).

The [[Slavic names]] may describe the appearance or character of the person, may constitute a wish or even stem from pre-Christian conjuring rituals that are meant not to attract the [[Slavic mythology|evil spirits]]. Below are listed examples of Bulgarian [[Slavic names]] and Bulgarian names of Greek, Latin, or Hebrew origin:

'''Feminine names:'''

Ana, Aneliya, Aneta, Bilyana, Bisera, Blagovesta, Bonislava, [[Bogdan]]a, Borislava, Boryana, [[Boyan (given name)|Boyana]], Boyka, [[Božidar|Bozhidara]], [[Branimir]]a, Daniela, Darina, Denitsa, Desislava, Diana, Dobromira, Elena, Elisaveta, Elitsa, Emilia, Evelina, Gabriela, Galya, Gergana, Ginka, Gloria, Grozda, Grozdana, Hristina, Iliana, Ioana, Iordanka, Ivanka, Ivelina, Kalina, Katerina, [[Krasimir (disambiguation)|Krasimir]]a, Kremena, Kristina, [[Ludmila (disambiguation)|Lyudmila]], Lyubov, Maia, Maria, Mariya, Marina, Mariyana, Margarita, Mila, [[Milena (name)|Milena]], Mira, Monika, Nadya, Nadezhda, Natalia, Nedelya, Neli, Nevena, Nikol, Nikolina, Nina, Nora, Nusha, [[Ognjen|Ognyana]], Olga, Petya, Plamena, Rada, Radina, Radka, [[Radoslav (disambiguation)|Radoslav]]a, Radostina, Ralitsa, Raina, Raya, Rossitza, Roza, Rumyana, Savina, Simona, [[Stanislava]], Snezhana, Stanka, Stilyana, Stoyanka, [[Svetlana]], Tanya, Tatyana, Teodora, Todora, Todorka, Trendafila, Tsveta, Tsvetanka, Valentina, Vasilka, Veselina, Viktoria, Violeta, Vladimira, Vyara, Yana, Zhivka, Zlatka, [[Zora (given name)|Zora]]...

'''Masculine names:'''

Andrei, Angel, Aleksandar, Aleksi, Anastas, Anton, Asen, Asparuh, Atanas, [[Bogdan]], [[Bogomil (name)|Bogomil]], [[Božidar|Bojidar]], [[Boris (first name)|Boris]], Borislav, Boyan, Boiko, [[Branimir]], Daniel, Danail, Delyan, Desislav, Dimo, Dobromir, [[Dragan]], [[Dragomir]], Elian, Genadi, Georgi, Grozdan, Hristiyan, Hristo, Hristofor, Ilian, Iordan Ioan (Yoan), Ivan, Ivo, Ivailo, Kalin, Kaloyan, Kiril, Kostadin, [[Krasimir (disambiguation)|Krasimir]], Krum, Lyuben, [[Lubomir (given name)|Lyubomir]], Mihail, [[Milan (given name)|Milan]], Milen, [[Miroslav (given name)|Miroslav]], [[Mladen]], Momchil, Nayden, Nedelcho, Nedyalko, Nikola, Nikolay, [[Ognjen|Ognian, Ognyan]], [[Pencho]], Petar, Plamen, Radko, [[Radomir (given name)|Radomir]], [[Radoslav (disambiguation)|Radoslav]], Rayko, Rumen, Sabin, Samuil, Simeon, Spas, Stefan, [[Stanimir]], [[Stanislav (given name)|Stanislav]], Stanko, Stilyan, Stoyan, Theodosii, Tihomir, Todor, Tsvetan, Valko, Valentin, Vasil, [[Ventsislav]], Veselin, [[Vladimir (name)|Vladimir]], [[Vladislav]], Yasen, Yavor, Yordan [[Zdravko]], Zhelyazko, Zhivko, Zdravko, [[Zlatan]], Zlatko...

In addition, some Bulgarian names may be of [[Thracians|Thracian]] (e.g. Neno, Dako, Geto) or [[Bulgars|Bulgar]] (Boris, [[Boyan (given name)|Boyan]], Biser) origin.

Since the [[Bulgarian National Revival]] and the [[Liberation of Bulgaria]] in 1878 names of successful [[List of Bulgarian monarchs|medieval Bulgarian rulers]], like [[Asen dynasty|Asen]], [[Asparukh of Bulgaria|Asparuh]], [[Ivailo of Bulgaria|Ivaylo]], [[Samuil of Bulgaria|Samuil]], [[Simeon I of Bulgaria|Simeon]] or [[Krum of Bulgaria|Krum]], have also gained a lot of popularity.

Traditionally, the parents would often name their child after an older relative, so that his/her name would live on in the family. Today, however, these are not binding conditions and are often ignored: parents often pick a name without conforming with these traditions, however, still many of them continue to observe them. Traditions to name a child after the parents' [[best man]] or [[maid of honor]] or the saint on whose [[name day]] the child is born also exist.

Many Bulgarian given names have a diminutive and/or a shorter version, which is almost always used in an informal context. Following is an example of some common diminutives:
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Given Name !! Diminutive
|-
| Aleksandar || Sasho, Aleks
|-
| Ana || Ani
|-
| Angel || Acho
|-
| Desislav|| Deso, Slav
|-
| Chavdar || Chocho
|-
| Dimitar || Mitko, Mitro
|-
| Denitsa || Denny 
|-
| Nadezhda || Nadya
|-
| Todor || Tosho, Toshko, Totyo
|-
| Nikola, Nikolay || Nicky, Kolyo
|-
| Georgi || Gosho, Zhoro, Gogo, Gotse
|-
| Gergana || Geri
|-
| Hristo || Itso
|-
| Ivayla || Iva
|-
| Lyubomir || Lyubo, Lyubcho, Miro
|-
| Petar || Pesho, Petyo 
|-
| Kostadin || Dinko, Kosta, Kotse
|-
| Ivan || Vanko, Vanyo
|-
| Katerina || Kate, Katya
|-
| Maria || Mara, Mima, Miche
|-
| Simeon || Simo, Monka, Moni, Simcho
|-
| Tatyana || Tanya, Tanche
|-
| Tsvetan || Tsetso
|-
| Yoana || Yonny

|}
Often these diminutives become independent given names in their own right.

==Bulgarian patronymics and family names==

===Usage===
Typically, a Bulgarian person inherits the last name of his father's family (family name), as well as a patronymic based on his father's given name, with a gender-[[agreement (linguistics)|agreeing]] [[suffix]] usually added. For example, Stoyan ''Georgi<u>ev</u>'' ''Draganov'' would be the son of ''Georgi'' Petkov ''Draganov''. The same person's daughter would bear the names ''Georgi<u>eva</u>'' ''Draganov<u>a</u>''. Another way of preserving the family name and the name of a specific ancestor would be the following circulating of the names: if the father's name is Ivan Petrov Mihailov, the son is named Petar Ivanov Mihailov. Then if Petar has a son, his name will be Ivan Petrov Mihailov, and so on.

Until recently{{when|date=May 2021}}, if the father's name was not a specific family name, the child would take his patronymic as a family name, so names in a chain of generations would shift. For example, the son of Petar Stoyanov Ivanov would be Georgi Petrov Stoyanov, his son would be Ivaylo Georgiev Petrov, his son would be Marin Ivaylov Georgiev. This practice often caused confusion in the past, especially when dealing for foreign institutions, since a child did not bear his father's family name. However, the recent generation has all but abandoned this practice.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}}

When marrying, today a woman may choose either to adopt her husband's family name, retain her [[maiden name]] or combine the two using a hyphen. For instance, when marrying Nikolay Petrov, Maria Bogdanova could become Petrova, remain Bogdanova or adopt Petrova-Bogdanova or Bogdanova-Petrova. Historically, she would adopt her husband's name. In any case, a woman retains her patronymic, which she has inherited from her father.

The Family Code (Bulgarian law regulating wedlock, cohabitation and family) allows the reverse as well: the husband may also take or add his wife's family name.

Sometimes a person is well known and referred to with his patronymic, e.g. sci-fi writer [[Lyuben Dilov]]'s full name is Lyuben Dilov Ivanov, the Bulgarian [[cosmonaut]] [[Georgi Ivanov (cosmonaut)|Georgi Ivanov]]'s full name is Georgi Ivanov Kakalov, and footballer [[Georgi Asparuhov]]'s full name is Georgi Asparuhov Rangelov.

Among [[Bulgarians in Serbia]], as well as in other countries throughout the world, the ''a'' ending of women's surnames is usually dropped, resulting in names such as Elizabeta Nikolov instead of Nikolova. Other examples of changes in the family name of Bulgarians living abroad is how Nikolov turns into Nikoloff.

===Etymology===
In most cases (though by no means always), the etymology of Bulgarian patronymics and family names closely corresponds to that of given names. Many families bear the name of the family's founder, adding the patronymic Slavic suffix "&ndash;ov/&ndash;ev" (men) or "&ndash;ova/&ndash;eva" (women) (e.g. Ivanov, Radeva, Parvanov, Petrova, Asenov, Tsvetanova). Family names may indicate the occupation of the founder, his nickname or origin, in which case names of [[Ottoman Turkish language|Ottoman Turkish]] or Greek etymology can be found in addition to those of Slavic origin (e.g. Kolarov, Kalaydzhieva, Popova, Cholakov, Kovacheva, Daskalov, Tepavicharov, Uzunova).

===Suffixes===
Most Bulgarian surnames end with "&ndash;ov(a)" or "&ndash;ev(a)". They work the same way as the [[patronymic]] (and are in fact derived from them), and are possessive forms of given names. The "&ndash;ov/&ndash;ev" (masculine) and "&ndash;ova/&ndash;eva" (feminine) suffixes are also extremely popular and commonly used by [[Russians]] and [[Ethnic Macedonians|Macedonians]]. Consequently, the surnames Ivanov(a), Petrov(a) and Mladenov(a) are the three most common surnames in Bulgaria. As these "&ndash;ov/&ndash;ev" surnames are indistinguishable from patronymics, it is not uncommon for people to have the same patronymic and surname; for instance the children of Petar Ivanov Petrov would be Georgi Petrov Petrov and Lyudmila Petrova Petrova. (This would also be distinguished from Russians, who would be named "Georgi Petrovich Petrov" and "Lyudmila Petrovna Petrova".)

Although most popular, "&ndash;ov/&ndash;ev" and respectively "&ndash;ova/&ndash;eva" are not the only patronymic and family name suffixes. The second most popular suffix is "&ndash;ski/&ndash;ska" (sometimes "&ndash;ki/&ndash;ka") (e.g. Zelenogorski, Stoykovska, Petrinska), which, besides often being merely a version of an "&ndash;ov/&ndash;ev" or "-&ndash;ova/&ndash;eva" name, may also often indicate origin (e.g. Sofianski &mdash; "from [[Sofia]]", Stamboliyski &mdash; "from [[Istanbul]]"). This suffix is not only popular with Bulgarians but with most other Slavic people, such as [[Polish people|Polish]], Macedonians, Russians (most often spelled as "-sky"), [[Belarusians]] and [[Ukrainians]].

Another suffix is "&ndash;in/&ndash;ina" (e.g. Kunin, Ganina, Radin). Unlike all other Bulgarian patronymics and family names, these stem from a female name (e.g. "of Kuna", "of Gana", "of Rada").{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}} They are most common in the region of Razlog and Bansko. The "&ndash;in" suffix is also popular with Russians.

For these three most popular suffixes, there is also a plural form used when referring to the family as a whole or several members of it (as opposed to a single member). For "&ndash;ov/&ndash;ova" and "&ndash;ev/&ndash;eva" it is "&ndash;ovi/&ndash;evi", for "&ndash;ski/&ndash;ska" it is "&ndash;ski" and for "&ndash;in/&ndash;ina" the form is "&ndash;ini".

Historically, the universal suffix "&ndash;ovich" and "-evich" was quite popular in some regions (bearers of such names include [[Gavril Krastevich]], [[Hristofor Zhefarovich]], [[Petar Parchevich]], [[Kiril Peychinovich]], etc.), particularly among the Roman Catholic Bulgarians, but has today largely fallen out of use and is more typical for the [[Serbian name|Serbo]]-[[Croatian name|Croatian]] name system (where it is usually spelled "[[-ić]]").

In addition, other suffixes also exist: for instance, names like Tihanek, Kozlek, Lomek (suffixed "&ndash;ek") were historically dominant in the town of [[Koprivshtitsa]].<sup>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070827060123/http://www.koprivshtitza.com/index_eng.html] (Internet Archive link)</sup>

Names lacking a suffix, although often foreign-sounding, have been more popular in the past, but still exist today (e.g. Beron, Tomash), despite being quite uncommon.

==Most popular names==
According to one study using [[telephone directory]] data, the five most popular male given names are [[Ivan (name)|Ivan]] (43,882 holders), [[Georgi (disambiguation)|Georgi]] (40,288), [[Dimitar]] (31,471) and [[Petar]] (20,602). The most popular female names are [[Maria (given name)|Maria]] (20,108), [[Ivanka (disambiguation)|Ivanka]] (11,872) [[Elena (name)|Elena]] (9,568), [[Jordana (disambiguation)|Yordanka]] (7,962) and Penka (6,696). The top ten family names are [[Ivanov (surname)|Ivanov/a]], [[Georgiev|Georgiev/a]], [[Mladenov (surname)|Mladenov/a]], [[Petrov (surname)|Petrov/a]], [[Nikolov|Nikolov/a]], [[Hristov (surname)|Hristov/a]], Stoyanov/a, Todorov/a and Iliev/a.<sup>[http://georgi.unixsol.org/diary/archive.php/2006-01-19]</sup>

==See also==
{{col-list|colwidth=15em|*[[Bulgarian language]]
* [[Bulgarians]]
* [[Name days in Bulgaria]]
* [[Slavic names]]
* [[Slavic surnames]]
}}
{{clear}}

==External links==
In English:
* [http://www.omda.bg/page.php?tittle=Bulgarian_Names&IDMenu=255&IDArticle=923 Traditional and modern names among the Bulgarian Christian population]
* [http://www.visittobulgaria.com/faq/Dir.asp?d=FAQ-Bulgarian_Names FAQ about Bulgarian names] &mdash; meaning, origin, name days, popularity, statistics, etc.
* [http://www.behindthename.com/nmc/bul.php BehindTheName.com - Bulgarian given names]
* [http://www.behindthename.com/names/usage/bulgarian BehindTheName.com - Bulgarian names], A website dedicated to Bulgarian names and their etymology and meaning(s).
* [http://www.behindthename.com/namedays/country/bulgaria BehindTheName.com - The Bulgarian name days]

In Bulgarian:
* {{in lang|bg}} [http://imenata.eu Bulgarian names], 400 most popular names, origin, meaning and name days calendar
* {{in lang|bg}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20100720012301/http://slavpagan.hit.bg/imena.html List of Slavic Bulgarian names] 
* {{in lang|bg}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20010819040912/http://www.imena.hit.bg/ime_sudba.htm Name and Destiny], article about Bulgarian names and an alphabetical database
* {{in lang|bg}} [http://authors.ometeo.net/101kb/05.pdf The Bulgarian surnames - a source for the past and for patriotism (Knowledge about the folk psychology which we find in our surnames)]
* {{in lang|bg}} [https://www.angelfire.com/ca6/ivayla/familia.html The Bulgarian surnames (origin)]
* {{in lang|bg}} [http://www.promacedonia.org/la/la3_9.html Origin and structure of the Bulgarian surnames] (from ''From the history of our linguistic construction'' by [[Lyubomir Andreychin]])
* {{in lang|bg}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20121224090210/http://www.uni-vt.bg/pages/5115/uplft/t10_315-378.pdf On the origin of 60 surnames (some of them of Bulgarian origin)]
* {{in lang|bg}} [http://www.protobulgarians.com/Statii%20za%20prabaalgarite/Redki%20familni%20imena.htm On the etymology and semantics of some rare Bulgarian surnames (by Ivan Tanev Ivanov)]
* {{in lang|bg}} [https://www.academia.edu/443269/%D0%9A%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BF%D1%8E%D1%82%D1%8A%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BD_%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B8%D0%B7_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D1%84%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5_%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%B2_%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%84%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D1%83%D0%BA%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%A1%D0%BE%D1%84%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%B7%D0%B0_%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B4%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B5_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%B4%D1%83%D0%BC%D0%B8_%D0%BE%D1%82_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B1%D1%8A%D0%BB%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%80%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8_%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B8_%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8_%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B8%D0%B7%D1%85%D0%BE%D0%B4 Computer analysis of the surnames in the telephone book of Sofia for finding words of Bulgar or Thracian origin] (by Y. Shopov,  L. T. Tsankov, T. Yalamov, S. Shopova, L. Nenchev, G. Kankanosyan)
* {{in lang|bg}} [http://iztok-zapad.eu/uploads/materials/Rechnik-Ilchev.pdf Dictionary of personal names and surnames of the Bulgarians] (by Stefan Ilchev)
* {{in lang|bg}} [http://www.vesti.bg/bulgaria/obshtestvo/kakvo-izdavat-familiite-ni-3649551 What do our (Bulgarian) surnames reveal?] (article)

{{Names_in_world_cultures}}

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