Explore the Magic of Arabic Culture: From Food to Language
Bulgarian names are not only beautiful—they’re also full of meaning and history. Just like a story, each name has three parts, and each part tells something about the person and their family.
How Bulgarian Names Are Structured
In Bulgaria, most people have three names:
-
Given name – This is your first name, like Maria or Ivan.
-
Middle name – This usually comes from your father’s first name.
-
Family name – This is often based on your grandfather’s name, and it shows which family you belong to.
For example, if a boy’s father is named Ivan, the boy’s middle name might be Ivanov, and if the grandfather was named Georgi, the family name might be Georgiev.
This tradition helps carry family names from one generation to the next. Long ago, parents almost always named their children after older relatives. Today, many families still follow this tradition, but some prefer to choose names simply because they like how they sound.
Name Endings in Bulgarian
In Bulgarian, last names often change depending on whether the person is a boy or a girl. For boys, family names usually end in:
-
-ov, -ev, or -ski
Examples: Ivanov, Petrov, Georgiev, Sofianski
For girls, the endings are slightly different:
-
-ova, -eva, or -ska
Examples: Ivanova, Petrova, Georgieva, Sofianska
This makes it easy to tell if a name belongs to a boy or a girl!
What Happens After Marriage?
When people get married in Bulgaria, the woman can choose to:
-
Take her husband’s family name
-
Keep her maiden name
-
Or even combine the two names using a hyphen (like Petrova-Georgieva)
And in modern Bulgaria, husbands can also take or add their wife’s family name—it’s all about what the couple decides together.
Popular Bulgarian Names
Here are some of the most common names in Bulgaria:
Girls:
Maria, Ivanka, Elena, Alexandra, Viktoria, Desislava, Petya, Violeta, Gergana, Margarita
Boys:
Georgi, Alexandar, Ivan, Dimitar, Martin, Nikolay, Petar, Stefan, Vasil, Yordan
These names come from many different places—Latin, Greek, Hebrew, and even ancient Thracian and Bulgar roots—making each name a little piece of history.
Learn More with Dinolingo
Want to discover more about Bulgaria while learning the language? Dinolingo makes learning Bulgarian fun and easy for kids aged 2 to 14. With interactive games, animated videos, songs, and printable worksheets, kids can explore names, culture, and vocabulary at their own pace. The platform works on web, iOS, and Android, and it includes a parent dashboard to track progress and celebrate success.
Conclusion
Bulgarian names are full of tradition, history, and meaning. Whether passed down from grandparents or chosen for their sound, each name is part of a bigger family story. Learning about names is just one fun way to explore the rich culture of Bulgaria.