This is a list of famous or notable

Bulgarians Bulgarians ( bg, българи, Bǎlgari, ) are a nation and South Slavic ethnic group native to Bulgaria and the rest of Southeast Europe. Etymology Bulgarians derive their ethnonym from the Bulgars. Their name is not completely underst ...

throughout history.

Bulgarian monarchs

* Kubrat *

Batbayan Batbayan ( bg, Батбаян) ruled the Khazarian Bulgars mentioned by Theophanes and Nicephorus after the Khazars defeated the Bulgars and Old Great Bulgaria disintegrated. There is a scholarly theory that he may have been the same person as ...

* Asparukh of Bulgaria * Tervel of Bulgaria * Kormesiy of Bulgaria * Sevar of Bulgaria *

Kormisosh of Bulgaria Kormisosh ( bg, Кормисош) was a ruler of Bulgaria during the 8th century. The Namelist of Bulgarian Rulers states that he belonged to the Ukil (or Vokil) clan and ruled for 17 years. According to the chronology developed by Moskov, Kor ...

Vinekh of Bulgaria Vineh (also spelled Vinekh; bg, Винех) was ruler of Bulgaria in the mid-8th century. According to the Nominalia of the Bulgarian khans, Vineh reigned for seven years and was a member of the Vokil clan. Vineh ascended the throne after the de ...

Telets of Bulgaria Telets ( bg, Телец), a member of the Ugain clan, was the ruler of Bulgaria from 762 to 765. Byzantine sources indicate that Telets replaced the legitimate rulers of Bulgaria. The same sources describe Telets as a brave and energetic man i ...

* Sabin of Bulgaria *

Umor of Bulgaria Umor ( bg, Умор) was the ruler of Bulgaria in 766. According to the Namelist of Bulgarian Rulers, Umor reigned for only 40 days in 766 and belonged to the Ukil clan, which makes him a relative of the former rulers Vinekh and possibly Kormis ...

* Toktu of Bulgaria * Pagan of Bulgaria *

Telerig of Bulgaria Telerig ( bg, Телериг) was the ruler of Bulgaria from 768 to 777. Although Telerig is first mentioned by Byzantine sources in 774, he is considered as he immediate successor of Pagan, who was murdered in 768. In May 774, Byzantine Empero ...

* Kardam of Bulgaria * Krum of Bulgaria * Omurtag of Bulgaria * Malamir of Bulgaria * Presian of Bulgaria *

Boris I Michael Boris I, also known as Boris-Mihail (Michael) and ''Bogoris'' ( cu, Борисъ А҃ / Борисъ-Михаилъ bg, Борис I / Борис-Михаил; died 2 May 907), was the ruler of the First Bulgarian Empire in 852–889. A ...

* Simeon the Great * Peter I of Bulgaria *

Boris II of Bulgaria Boris II ( cu, Борисъ В҃; bg, Борис II; c. 931 – 977) was emperor (tsar) of Bulgaria from 969 to 977 (in Byzantine captivity from 971). Boris II was the eldest surviving son of Emperor Peter I of Bulgaria and Maria (renamed Eire ...

* Roman of Bulgaria *

Samuil of Bulgaria Samuel (also Samuil; bg, Самуил, ; mk, Самоил/Самуил, ; Old Church Slavonic: Самоилъ; died October 6, 1014) was the Tsar (''Emperor'') of the First Bulgarian Empire from 997 to 6 October 1014. From 977 to 997, he was ...

* Gavril Radomir of Bulgaria * Ivan Vladislav of Bulgaria *

Presian II of Bulgaria Presian, sometimes referred to as Presian II ( bg, Пресиян II; el, Προυσιάνος, Prousianos) was probably the oldest son of the last tsar of the First Bulgarian Empire, Ivan Vladislav (), who after the Byzantine conquest of Bulgari ...

Peter (II) Delyan of Bulgaria Petar II Delyan (reigned 1040–1041) ( bg, Петър II Делян, Greek: Πέτρος Δελεάνος) was the leader of an uprising against Byzantine rule in the Theme of Bulgaria during the summer of 1040. He was proclaimed Tsar of Bulgaria ...

* Constantin Bodin (Peter (III)) * Ivan Asen I of Bulgaria *

Peter IV of Bulgaria Peter II,), because they take into consideration two previous leaders of anti-Byzantine rebellions, Peter Delyan (who assumed the imperial title in 1040) and Constantine Bodin (who took the name Peter in 1072)., group=note born Theodor, also kn ...

* Kaloyan of Bulgaria * Boril of Bulgaria * Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria * Kaliman I of Bulgaria * Michael Asen I of Bulgaria *

Kaliman II of Bulgaria Kaliman Asen II ( bg, Калиман Асен II), or commonly, but less accurately Koloman Asen II, ruled as tsar of Bulgaria for a short time in 1256. The year of his birth is unknown. Kaliman Asen II was the son of ''sebastokrator'' Alexander, ...

* Mitso Asen of Bulgaria *

Constantine Tikh of Bulgaria Konstantin Tih ( bg, Константин Тих Асен) or Constantine I Tikh (Константин I), was the tsar of Bulgaria from 1257 to 1277, he was offered the throne from Mitso Asen. He led the Bulgarian Empire at a time when the nearb ...

Michael Asen II of Bulgaria Michael ( bg, Михаил) was a Bulgarian nobleman, the son of Tsar Konstantin Tih of Bulgaria and Maria Palaiologina Kantakouzene, niece of emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos of the Byzantine Empire. He was born in 1270, was declared ''porphyrogenn ...

* Ivaylo of Bulgaria * Ivan Asen III of Bulgaria * George I of Bulgaria * Smilets of Bulgaria *

Chaka of Bulgaria Chaka ( bg, Чака) reigned as tsar of Bulgaria from 1299 to 1300. He was the son of the Mongol leader Nogai Khan by a wife named Alaka. Sometime after 1285 Chaka married a daughter of George Terter I of Bulgaria, named Elena. In the late 1290s, ...

* Theodore Svetoslav of Bulgaria * George II of Bulgaria * Michael III Shishman of Bulgaria *

Ivan Stephen of Bulgaria Ivan Stefan ( bg, Иван Стефан; in English also ''John Stephen'') (c. 1300/1301–1373 (?)) ruled as emperor (tsar) of Bulgaria for eight months from 1330 to 1331. He was the eldest son of emperor Michael III Shishman and Anna Neda of Se ...

* Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria *

Ivan Shishman of Bulgaria Ivan Shishman ( bg, Иван Шишман) ruled as emperor (tsar) of Bulgaria in Tarnovo from 1371 to 3 June 1395. The authority of Ivan Shishman was limited to the central parts of the Bulgarian Empire. In the wake of the death of Ivan Alexan ...

* Ivan Sratsimir of Bulgaria *

Constantine II of Bulgaria Constantine II ( bg, Константин II Асен, ''Konstantin II Asen''), allegedly ruled as emperor (tsar) of Bulgaria from 1397 to 1422. He was born in the early 1370s, and died in exile at the Serbian court on 17 September 1422. Constanti ...

Alexander I of Bulgaria Alexander Joseph ( bg, Александър I Батенберг; 5 April 185717 November 1893), known as Alexander of Battenberg, was the first prince (''knyaz'') of the Principality of Bulgaria from 1879 until his abdication in 1886. The Bulga ...

* Ferdinand I of Bulgaria *

Boris III of Bulgaria Boris III ( bg, Борѝс III ; Boris Treti; 28 August 1943), originally Boris Klemens Robert Maria Pius Ludwig Stanislaus Xaver (Boris Clement Robert Mary Pius Louis Stanislaus Xavier) , was the Tsar of the Kingdom of Bulgaria from 1918 until h ...

* Simeon II of Bulgaria

Performing arts

Directors

* Stephen C. Apostolof * Christo Christov * Slatan Dudow *

Georgi Djulgerov Georgi Djulgerov ( bg, Георги Дюлгеров) is a Bulgarian film director, screenwriter, producer and professor at the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts. Career Djulgerov was born in Burgas, Bulgaria, on 30 September 1943. Aft ...

* Tonislav Hristov *

Lyudmil Kirkov Lyudmil Kirkov ( bg, Людмил Кирков, 14 December 1933 – 12 December 1995) was a Bulgarian film director and actor. Kirkov was among the prominent Bulgarian film and theatre directors from the last decades of the 20th century. He ...

* Nikola Korabov * Nikola Kovachev *

Vulo Radev Vulo Radev () ( Lesidren, 1 January 1923 – Sofia, 28 March 2001) was a Bulgarian film director, writer, and cinematographer, who also did some script editing.) Within the context of Bulgarian cinema, his films Цар и генерал (Tsar ...

* Petar B. Vasilev *

Binka Zhelyazkova Binka Zhelyazkova ( bg, Бинка Желязкова, 15 July 1923 – 31 July 2011), was a Bulgarian film director who made films between the late 1950s and the 1990s. She was the first Bulgarian woman to direct a feature film and one of th ...

Actors

:''See also

List of Bulgarian actors The following is a list of Bulgarian actors. *Maria Bakalova *Nikolay Binev * Vasil Binev * Radina Borshosh * Ivaylo Brusovski *Adriana Budevska * Georgi Cherkelov * Stefan Danailov * Mariana Dimitrova * Tanya Dimitrova *Ivan Dimov *Nina Dobrev * ...

'' * Zahari Baharov * Maria Bakalova * George Baker * Nikolay Binev * Radina Borshosh * Stefan Danailov * Nina Dobrev *

Yana Marinova Yana Marinova ( Bulgarian: Яна Маринова) is a Bulgarian actress. Life and career Yana was born on 17 August 1978 and completed higher education in economics. She married at 22 years old and has a son. She participates in Bulgarian f ...

* Itzhak Fintzi * Georgi Georgiev *

Georgi Georgiev-Getz Georgi Georgiev-Getz ( bg, Георги Георгиев-Гец; October 4, 1926 – September 2, 1996) was a Bulgarian film and stage actor. Best known for portraying valiant and honest conservative men, Getz was among the prominent names i ...

Kiril Gospodinov Kiril Ivanov Gospodinov ( bg, Кирил Иванов Господинов) (1934–2003) was a Bulgarian theater and film actor. His acting created one of the eminent characters in the Cinema of Bulgaria, Bulgarian film art. Biography and caree ...

Stanislav Ianevski Stanislav Ianevski (; born Stanislav Rumenov Yanevski, bg, Станислав Руменов Яневски; on 16 May 1985), is a Bulgarian actor best known for playing Viktor Krum in the 2005 fantasy film ''Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' ...

* Gloria Ivanova *

Georgi Kaloyanchev Georgi Todorov Kaloyanchev ( bg, Георги Калоянчев; January 13, 1925 – December 18, 2012) was a Bulgarian actor. He was born in the city of Burgas. He studied in the former theatrical school in Sofia. Immediately after graduati ...

* Apostol Karamitev *

Nevena Kokanova Nevena Kokanova ( bg, Невена Коканова) (12 December 1938 – 3 June 2000) was a Bulgarian film actress. She was known as the "first lady of Bulgarian cinema." Her mother was from a well-known Austrian aristocratic family, and he ...

* Todor Kolev * Victoria Koleva *

Julian Kostov Julian Kostov ( bg, Юлиaн Костов; born 25 August 1989) is a Bulgarian actor, filmmaker, talent manager, and former professional swimmer based between London and Los Angeles. He starred in the film ''Another Mother's Son'' (2017). On t ...

* Marius Kurkinski * Moni Moshonov (born 1951), Bulgarian-born Israeli actor and comedian * Stoyanka Mutafova *

Lyubomir Neikov Lyubomir Neikov ( bg, Любомир Нейков; born 7 February 1972, in Cherven Bryag) is a Bulgarian comedian and actor. He is known for his work on television and in theatre. He graduated from the Technical School of electrical engineering ...

Georgi Partsalev Georgi Ivanov Partsalev ( bg, Георги Иванов Парцалев; 16 June 1925 – 31 October 1989) was a Bulgarian theatre and film actor mainly known for his roles in comedies. Born in Levski, Pleven Province in 1925, Partsalev finishe ...

* Katya Paskaleva *

Bashar Rahal Bashar Mounzer Rahal ( bg, Башар Мунзер Рахал, ar, بشار رحال; born 20 October 1974) is a Bulgarian actor. Life and career Early life Bashar Rahal was born in Dubai, UAE, the son of Lebanese father Mounzer Rahal and Bu ...

* Hristo Shopov *

Naum Shopov Naum Hristov Shopov ( bg, Наум Христов Шопов; 27 July 1930 – 18 April 2012) was a Bulgarian actor. He appeared in more than thirty films since 1960. His son Hristo Shopov Hristo Naumov Shopov ( bg, Христо Наумо� ...

* Petar Slabakov * Kosta Tsonev *

Grigor Vachkov Grigor Vachkov, often called Grishata ( bg, Григор Вачков - Гришата; 26 May 1932 – 18 March 1980) was a Bulgarian theater and film actor, honored with the award of "People's actor" in the People's Republic of Bulgaria. He ha ...

Models

* Silvia Dimitrova * Nina Dobrev * Nansi Karaboycheva *

* Diliana Popova

Dancers

Asen Gavrilov Asen Gavrilov (; 10 June 1926 – 21 May 2006) was a famous Bulgarian ballet dancer and choreographer. He was renowned by his roles in '' Swan Lake'', '' Giselle'' and '' The Dragon and Yana'', and by his choreography of ''Aida'' and '' Prince ...

Journalists

* Oggy Boytchev * Nikolay Kolev - Michmana *

Elena Yoncheva Elena Nikolova Yoncheva ( bg, Елена Николова Йончева) (born 27 May 1964) is a Bulgarian freelance journalist and politician who has been serving as a Member of the European Parliament since 2019. A former Bulgarian National ...

Television

* Todor Kolev *

Niki Kunchev Nikolay "Niki" Kanchev ( bg, Николай Кънчев, or Ники Кънчев) (born 26 December 1960) is a Bulgarian television presenter, famous for hosting the Bulgarian version of '' Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?'' (re-titled to ''Ст ...

* Milen Tsvetkov *

Aleksandra Sarchadjieva Aleksandra Sarchadjieva ( bg, Александра Сърчаджиева; born May 20, 1983) is a Bulgarian actress and also television host of Big Brother (Bulgaria) and Dancing Stars (Bulgarian TV series). She has been the main female host of ...

Slavi Trifonov Stanislav Todorov Trifonov ( bg, Станислав Тодоров Трифонов; born 18 October 1966), known as Slavi Trifonov ( bg, Слави Трифонов), is a Bulgarian TV host, musician and politician. Trifonov is mainly active i ...

* Ralitsa Vassileva

Literature

Authors

Elisaveta Bagryana Elisaveta Bagryana ( bg, Елисавета Багряна) (16 April, 1893 – 23 March, 1991), born Elisaveta Lyubomirova Belcheva ( bg, Елисавета Любомирова Белчева, links=no), was a Bulgarian poet who wrote her f ...

* Petar Beron * Ran Bosilek * Assen Bossev * Hristo Botev *

Elias Canetti Elias Canetti (; bg, Елиас Канети; 25 July 1905 – 14 August 1994) was a German-language writer, born in Ruse, Bulgaria to a Sephardic family. They moved to Manchester, England, but his father died in 1912, and his mother took her ...

* Dobri Chintulov * Chudomir * Clement of Ohrid *

Constantine of Preslav Constantine of Preslav () was a medieval Bulgarian scholar, writer and translator, one of the most important men of letters working at the Preslav Literary School at the end of the 9th and the beginning of the 10th century. Biographical eviden ...

Atanas Dalchev Atanas Hristov Dalchev (also written ''Dalčev''; bg, Атанас Далчев) (June 12, 1904 - January 17, 1978) was a Bulgarian poet, critic and translator. He was among the leading Bulgarian poets of the 1920s and 1930s. Dalchev was also a ...

Dimcho Debelyanov Dimcho Debelyanov () (28 March 1887 – 2 October 1916) was a Bulgarian poet and author. Born to a prosperous tailoring family in Koprivshtitsa, Bulgaria, Debelyanov experienced financial hardship upon the death of his father in 1896, which n ...

* Alexenia Dimitrova * Dimitar Dimov * Vasil Drumev * Petya Dubarova * John Exarch *

Dora Gabe Dora Petrova Gabe (16 August 1888 – 16 November 1983) was а Bulgarian Jewish poet. She published poetry for adults and children as well as travel books, short stories and essays. In her later years, she also did extensive work in translation ...

* Nikolai Haitov *

Paisiy Hilendarski Saint Paisius of Hilendar or Paìsiy Hilendàrski ( bg, Свети Паисий Хилендарски) (1722–1773) was a Bulgarian clergyman and a key Bulgarian National Revival figure. He is most famous for being the author of ''Istoriya Slav ...

* Chernorizetz Hrabar * Nikolai Hristozov *

Angel Karaliychev Angel Ivanov Karaliychev ( bg, Ангел Иванов Каралийчев; 21 August 1902, Strazhitsa – 14 December 1972, Sofia) was a Bulgarian writer of children's literature. Biography Early years and education Karaliychev spent his y ...

* Lyuben Karavelov * Stefan Kisyov * Aleko Konstantinov *

Miladinov Brothers The Miladinov brothers ( bg, Братя Миладинови, ''Bratya Miladinovi'', mk, Браќа Миладиновци, ''Brakja Miladinovci''), Dimitar Miladinov (1810–1862) and Konstantin Miladinov (1830–1862), were Bulgarian poets ...

* Aleksandra Monedzhikova *

Grigor Parlichev Grigor Stavrev Parlichev (also spelled Prlichev, Parlitcheff or Prličev; bg, Григор Ставрев Пърличев; gr, Γρηγόριος Σταυρίδης, translit=Grigorios Stavrides, mk, Григор Прличев) was a Bulga ...

Elin Pelin Elin Pelin ( bg, Елин Пелин ) (8 July 1877 – 3 December 1949), born Dimitar Ivanov Stoyanov ( bg, Димитър Иванов Стоянов) is considered Bulgaria’s best narrator of the Bulgarian (Balkan) countryside and village. ...

* Ivailo Petrov * Valeri Petrov * Julian Popov *

Maria Popova Maria Popova ( bg, Мария Попова; born 28 July 1984) is a Bulgarian-born, American-based essayist, book author, poet, and writer of literary and arts commentary and cultural criticism that has found wide appeal both for her writing and ...

Yordan Radichkov Yordan Radichkov ( bg, Йордан Радичков; 24 October 1929 – 21 January 2004) was a Bulgarian writer and playwright. Literary critics Adelina Angusheva and Galin Tihanov called him "arguably the most significant voice of Bulgarian ...

Radoy Ralin Radoy Ralin ( bg, Радой Ралин) (April 23, 1922 – July 22, 2004), born Dimitar Stoyanov ( bg, Димитър Стоянов), was a Bulgarian dissident, poet, and satirist. After the downfall of the communist regime, he was urged to r ...

Kuzman Shapkarev Kuzman Anastasov Shapkarev, ( bg, Кузман Анастасов Шапкарев), (1 January 1834 in Ohrid – 18 March 1909 in Sofia) was a Bulgarian folklorist, ethnographer and scientist from the Ottoman region of Macedonia, author of te ...

Pencho Slaveykov Pencho Petkov Slaveykov ( bg, Пенчо Петков Славейков) (27 April 1866 O.S. – 10 June 1912 ( O.S. 28 May 1912)) was a noted Bulgarian poet and one of the participants in the Misal ("Thought") circle. He was the youngest son o ...

* Petko Slaveykov *

Hristo Smirnenski Hristo Dimitrov Izmirliev ( bg, Христо Димитров Измирлиев), known as Hristo Smirnenski, (September 17, 1898, OS – June 18, 1923) was a Bulgarian poet and prose writer who joined the Bulgarian Communist Party and whose w ...

* Emiliyan Stanev *

Zahari Stoyanov Zahariy Stoyanov ( bg, Захарий Стоянов; archaic: ) (1850 – 2 September 1889), born Dzhendo Stoyanov Dzhedev ( bg, Джендо Стоянов Джедев), was a Bulgarian revolutionary, writer, and historian. A participant ...

* Anton Strashimirov * Stanislav Stratiev * Edvin Sugarev * Dimitar Talev * Tzvetan Todorov * Stefan Tzanev * Nikola Vaptsarov * Ivan Vazov *

Pavel Vezhinov Pavel Vezhinov () (November 9, 1914 – December 2, 1983), born Nikola Delchev Gugov (), was a Bulgarian novelist and scriptwriter, with an interest for social and ethical issues and one of the first Bulgarian authors to use elements of fan ...

* Vladislav the Grammarian * Dobri Voinikov *

Sofronii Vrachanski Saint Sophronius of Vratsa (or Sofroniy Vrachanski; bg, Софроний Врачански; 1739–1813), born Stoyko Vladislavov ( bg, Стойко Владиславов), was a Bulgarian cleric and one of the leading figures of the early Bul ...

* Peyo Yavorov * Nedyalko Yordanov *

Yordan Yovkov Yordan Stefanov Yovkov ( bg, Йордан Стефанов Йовков) (November 9, 1880 – October 15, 1937) was a prominent Bulgarian writer from the interwar period. Biography Born in the village of Zheravna, Yovkov studied at First Sofia M ...

Music

Composers

:''See also List of Bulgarian composers'' * Nikola Atanasov * Victor Chuchkov *

Alexandra Fol Alexandra Fol (born July 11, 1981) in Sofia, Bulgaria is a Bulgarian-Canadian composer who resides in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Fol has composed more than 40 works in different mediums, which have been performed by ensembles such as Sofia Philhar ...

* Marin Goleminov *

Michail Goleminov Michail Marinov Goleminov ( bg, Михаил Маринов Големинов) (2 June 1956 – 26 February 2022) was a Bulgarian pianist, conductor and composer. Life and career Goleminov was born in Bulgaria, and was the son of composer Mari ...

Dobri Hristov Dobri Hristov ( bg, Добри Христов; 14 December 1875 – 23 January 1941) was one of the major Bulgarian composers of the 20th century. He wrote mainly choral music, as well as some church music and music for the orchestra. Hristov wa ...

* Nikolay Kaufman *

Nikolo Kotzev Nikolo Kotzev ( bg, Николо Коцев) (born 6 June 1961) is a Bulgarian guitarist, violinist, songwriter and producer, perhaps most famous for his 2001 rock opera ''Nostradamus'' and his band Brazen Abbot. Biography Kotzev was born in ...

* Petar Krumov * John Kukuzelis * Filip Kutev * Kiril Lambov * Milcho Leviev * Emanuil Manolov * Georgi Minchev * Dimitar Nenov *

Ivo Papasov Ivo Papazov (or Papasov; bg, Иво Папазов; born 16 February 1952), nicknamed Ibryama (), is a Bulgarian clarinetist. He leads the "Ivo Papazov Wedding Band" in performances of jazz-infused Stambolovo music, and is one of the premier cr ...

Albena Petrovic-Vratchanska Albena Petrovic-Vratchanska ( bg, Албена Петрович-Врачанска) (born 20 October 1965 in Sofia, Bulgaria) is a composer, pianist and musical pedagogue. In 2007 she received the prestigious commission of the Cultural Year 2007 i ...

Stefan Popov Stefan Popov (born 3 April 1940) is an internationally recognised Bulgarian cellist. He started playing the cello at the age of 11 and, having won a scholarship, continued his training at the Moscow Conservatory where he studied under Sviatoslav Kn ...

Anna-Maria Ravnopolska-Dean Anna-Maria Yordanova Ravnopolska-Dean ( bg, Анна-Мария Йорданова Равнополска-Дийн), born 3 August 1960, Sofia, Bulgaria, is a Bulgarian and American harpist, composer, pedagogue, musicologist and TV host. Biogra ...

* Petko Stainov * Dobrinka Tabakova * Ralitsa Tcholakova * Georgi Tutev *

Stefan Valdobrev Stefan Kostadinov Valdobrev ( bg, Стефан Костадинов Вълдобрев; born 20 May 1970) is a Bulgarian actor, film/theatre composer, singer-songwriter and filmmaker. He received classical training at the National Academy of The ...

* Pancho Vladigerov

Singers and musicians

:''See also List of Bulgarian musicians and singers *

100 Kila Yavor Dimitrov Yanakiev ( bg, Явор Димитров Янакиев; born 16 May 1985), better known by his stage name 100 Kila ( bg, 100 Кила; also stylized as 100KILA), is a Bulgarian rapper, actor, songwriter and entrepreneur from Varn ...

Alexis Weissenberg Alexis Sigismund Weissenberg ( bg, Алексис Сигизмунд Вайсенберг; 26 July 1929 – 8 January 2012) was a Bulgarian-born French pianist. Early life and career Born into a Jewish family in Sofia, Weissenberg began taking ...

* Andrea * Angela Tosheva * Azis *

Boris Christoff Boris Christoff ( bg, Борис Кирилов Христов, Boris Kirilov Hristov, ; 18 May 1914 – 28 June 1993) was a Bulgarian opera singer, widely considered one of the greatest basses of the 20th century. Early life He was born ...

* Christina Morfova *

Desi Slava Desislava Ivanova Doneva ( bg, Десислава Иванова Донева; born 7 March 1979), known by her stage names Desi Slava ( bg, Деси Слава) or DESS, is a Bulgarian singer-songwriter and producer. She was born in Radnevo, ...

* Elena Nicolai *

Elitsa Todorova Elitsa Todorova ( bg, Елица Тодорова; born September 2, 1977, in Varna, Bulgaria) is a Bulgarian folk singer and professional percussionist. Todorova formed the duo Elitsa & Stoyan and they represented Bulgaria in the Eurovision S ...

* Emil Dimitrov * Filipp Kirkorov * Gena Dimitrova * Georgi Minchev *

Gery-Nikol Gery-Nikol Nikolaeva Georgieva ( bg, Гери-Никол Николаева Георгиева, born 30 July 1998), better known mononymously as Gery-Nikol, is a Bulgarian recording artist who rose to fame in late 2014 after participating in the ...

* Gloria * Ivan Yanakov (pianist) *

Ivanka Ninova Ivanka Ninova ( bg, Иванка Нинова) is a Bulgarian mezzo-soprano opera singer born in Vidin. Education She began her musical education at a music school and later at the Pancho Vladigerov National Academy of Music in Sofia S ...

Kiril Marichkov Kiril Marichkov ( bg, Кирил Маричков, 30 October 1944 in Sofia) is a Bulgarian rock musician. Biography Marichkov was born in Sofia and played piano, clarinet, bass-guitar and guitar since young age. In 1963 he founded one of the ...

* Kamen Tchanev * Lili Ivanova *

Ljuba Welitsch Ljuba Welitsch (''Veličkova''; bg, Люба Величкова 10 July 1913 – 1 September 1996) was an operatic soprano. She was born in Borisovo, Bulgaria, studied in Sofia and Vienna, and sang in opera houses in Austria and Germany in ...

Ludmilla Diakovska Ludmila Lubomirova "Lucy" Diakovska ( bg, Людмила Любомирова Дяковска; born 2 April 1976) is a Bulgarian and German singer and television personality. She rose to prominence as one of the founding members of the all-fem ...

* Marius Kurkinski * Mira Aroyo *

Nayden Todorov Nayden Todorov ( Bulgarian: Найден Тодоров; born Plovdiv 1974) is a Bulgarian conductor. Biography Todorov was born on 8 April 1974 in Plovdiv. In 1993 he graduated from the Dobrin Petkov National School of Music in Plovdiv in ...

* Neva Krysteva * Nicolai Ghiaurov * Nikola Giuzelev *

Poli Genova Poli Plamenova Genova ( bg, Поли Пламенова Генова; born 10 February 1987) is a Bulgarian singer, songwriter, actress, and television presenter. Genova began her career in 1991, at the age of four, as a member of the Bulgarian ch ...

* Raina Kabaivanska * Ralitsa Tcholakova *

* Spens *

Svetla Protich Svetla Protich ( bg, Светла Протич), is a Bulgarian classical pianist and professor of music. Biography Svetla Protich started taking piano lessons at the age of 5 under Prof. Dimitar Nenov, and performed her first solo-recital wh ...

* Sylvie Vartan * Theodosii Spassov * Valya Balkanska * Vassil Naidenov *

Vesselina Kasarova Vesselina Kasarova ( bg, Веселина Кацарова; born 18 July 1965) is a Bulgarian operatic mezzo-soprano. Early life and education Kasarova was born in the central Bulgarian town of Stara Zagora. Under the communist regime she studie ...

* Yildiz Ibrahimova * Yoan Kukuzel

Visual arts

Architects

* Victoria Angelova * Milka Bliznakov * Andrey Damyanov *

Kolyu Ficheto Nikola Fichev ( bg, Никола Фичев) (1800 Direnova, Ottoman Empire - 1881 Veliko Tarnovo, Principality of Bulgaria), commonly known as Kolyo Ficheto ( bg, Колю Фичето) or with his Turkish honorific Usta (Master) Kolyo Ficheto ...

Georgi Fingov Georgi Dimitrov Fingov ( bg, Георги Димитров Фингов; 1874–1944) was a Bulgarian architect who was particularly influenced by French Art Nouveau and is regarded as the first prominent representative of the Bulgarian Secessio ...

* Naum Torbov

Painters

Angel Metodiev Angel Metodiev (''Angel Metodiev Angelov'', Bulgarian: Ангел Методиев Ангелов) (16 March 1921 – 29 April 1984) was a Bulgarian fine art painter (Classical Realism) and teacher. He was particularly famous for his portraits, ...

Bencho Obreshkov Bencho Yordanov Obreshkov ( bg, Бенчо Йорданов Обрешков, 27 April 1899, Karnobat - 8 April 1970, Sofia) was a renowned Bulgarian painter. He graduated under Petko Klissurov and Ivan Angelov from the Sofia Academy of Fine Arts ...

Boris Georgiev Boris Georgiev ( bg, Борис Георгиев) (born 5 December 1982) is an amateur boxer from Bulgaria who won a bronze medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics in the light welterweight class. Career In 2000 he lost the European fea ...

* Christo Yavashev – Christo * Chudomir * Dechko Uzunov * Dimitre Mehandjiysky * Ekaterina Savova-Nenova * George Papazov * Hristofor Zhefarovich * Ilia Beshkov * Ivan Markvichka *

Ivan Nenov Ivan Nenov () (1902–1997) was a Bulgaria Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by ...

Jules Pascin Julius Mordecai Pincas (March 31, 1885 – June 5, 1930), known as Pascin (; erroneously or ), Jules Pascin, or the "Prince of Montparnasse", was a Bulgarian artist known for his paintings and drawings. He later became an American citizen ...

* Keratza Vissulceva * Konstantin Shtarkelov * Nikola Avramov *

Nikola Marinov Nikola Marinov Abadzhiev ( bg, Никола Маринов Абаджиев) was a Bulgarian painter and teacher. Marinov was born in the town of Targovishte in 1879. His interest in painting began in the high school. After that he continued his ...

* Radi Nedelchev * Silvia Dimitrova * Vladimir Dimitrov - Maistora * Yaroslav Veshin * Yanko Tihov * Zahariy Zograf * Zlatyu Boyadzhiev

Sculptors

* Ivan Minekov * Christo * Todor Todorov * Vezhdi Rashidov

Others

* Annie Ivanova, arts curator *

Christo Vladimirov Javacheff Christo Vladimirov Javacheff (1935–2020) and Jeanne-Claude Denat de Guillebon (1935–2009), known as Christo and Jeanne-Claude, were artists noted for their large-scale, site-specific environmental installations, often large landmarks and ...

, along with Jeanne-Claude * Peter Lazarov, graphic artist *

Alex Maleev Alex Maleev ( Bulgarian: Алекс Малеев) is a Bulgarian comic book illustrator, best known for the Marvel Comics' series ''Daredevil'' (vol. 2) with frequent collaborator Brian Michael Bendis. Career Coming from a fine arts background, ...

, cartoonist * Toma Tomov, graphic artist * Kristina Ruseva,muse

Business

* Delyan Peevski * Emil Kyulev * Georgi Naydenov * Iliya Pavlov *

Kroum Pindoff Kroum Pindoff ( bg, Крум Пиндов) (1915 – 16 January 2013) was a Bulgarian Canadian businessman. Pindoff was born in Emporio, Eordaia municipality, Kozani regional unit, Greece, and raised in Bulgaria. Pindoff participated in the ...

* Tihomir Kamenov

State

Politicians

* Georgi Atanasov * Prince Alexander of Battenberg * Nikola Mushanov * Boyko Borisov * Todor Burmov * Teodor Teodorov *

Filip Dimitrov Philip Dimitrov Dimitrov ( bg, Филип Димитров Димитров ) (born 31 March 1955) is a Bulgarian politician, Prime Minister of Bulgaria 1991 – 1992, MP in the 36th (1991 – 1994), 37th (1994 – 1997) and the 40th (2005 � ...

* Georgi Dimitrov * Konstantin Dimitrov * Simeon Djankov * Kimon Georgiev * Reneta Indzhova * Vasil Kolarov *

Ivan Kostov Ivan Yordanov Kostov ( bg, Иван Йорданов Костов ) (born 23 December 1949, in Sofia) was the 47th Prime Minister of Bulgaria in office from May 1997 to July 2001 and leader of the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) between De ...

Andrey Lukanov Andrey Karlov Lukanov ( ) (26 September 1938 – 2 October 1996) was a Bulgarian politician. Between February and November 1990, was the final Prime Minister of the People's Republic of Bulgaria. Biography Early life Lukanov was born in Moscow, ...

Nadezhda Mihailova Nadezhda Neynsky,Name after her second marriage after she divorced with her previous husband. previously known as Nadezhda Nikolova Mihaylova ( bg, Надежда Николова Михайлова) (born 9 August 1962 in Sofia) is a Bulgarian ...

* Georgi Parvanov * Solomon Pasi * Vasil Radoslavov * Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha * Aleksandar Stamboliyski * Stefan Stambolov * Aleksandar Malinov * Petar Stoyanov * Andrey Lyapchev * Zhan Videnov * Zhelyu Zhelev * Todor Zhivkov

Revolutionaries

* Todor Aleksandrov * Georgi Benkovski *

Dame Gruev Damyan Yovanov Gruev (,The first names can also be transliterated as ''Damjan Jovanov'', after Bulgarian Дамян Йованов Груев and Macedonian Дамјан Јованов Груев. The last name is also sometimes rendered as ''G ...

* Gotse Delchev * Tsanko Dyustabanov *

Hadzhi Dimitar Dimitar Nikolov Asenov ( bg, Димитър Николов Асенов ; 10 May 1840 – 10 August 1868), better known as Hadzhi Dimitar ( ), was one of the most prominent Bulgarian voivode and revolutionaries working for the Liberation of Bulg ...

* Panayot Hitov *

Todor Kableshkov Todor Kableshkov ( Bulgarian: Тодор Каблешков) (13 January 1851 – 16 June 1876) was a 19th-century Bulgarian revolutionary and one of the leaders of the April Uprising. Born in Koprivshtitsa in a wealthy family, he studied in his ...

* Stefan Karadzha * Lyuben Karavelov * Nikola Karev * Asen Kojarov * Vasil Levski *

Georgi Obretenov Georgi Tihov Obretenov ( bg, Георги Тихов Обретенов) was a Bulgarian revolutionary, best known for his participation in the April Uprising of 1876. Biography Georgi Obretenov, the youngest son of Tonka Obretenova, was bo ...

Nikola Obretenov Nikola Tihov Obretenov (28 May 1849 – 11 October 1939) was a Bulgarian revolutionary, one of the combatants for the liberation of Bulgaria, and a participant in the Stara Zagora Uprising and the April Uprising. His book "Memories About Bulgarian ...

Tonka Obretenova Tonka Obretenova ( bg, Тонка Обретенова), known as Baba Tonka (Баба Тонка), was a female Bulgarian revolutionary, born in 1812 in Rousse. Her parents, Toncho Postavchiyata (Тончо Поставчията) and Minka Ton ...

* Gjorche Petrov *

Yane Sandanski Yane Ivanov Sandanski (, ) (originally spelled in older Bulgarian orthography ) (18 May 1872 – 22 April 1915), was a Macedonian Bulgarian revolutionary.Per Julian Allan Brooks' thesis the term ‘Macedo-Bulgarian’ refers to the Exarchist pop ...

* Boris Sarafov * Georgi Sava Rakovski *

Hristo Tatarchev Hristo Tatarchev ( Macedonian and ; December 16, 1869 – January 5, 1952) was a Bulgarian doctor and revolutionary, the first leader of the revolutionary movement in Macedonia and Adrianople Thrace. He wrote a memoirs called ''The First Centr ...

Filip Totyu Todor Todorov Topalov (or Topalski) ( bg, Тодор Тодоров Топалов or Топалски; 1830-23 March 1907), better known under the pseudonym Filip Totyu (Филип Тотю), was a Bulgarian revolutionary of the Bulgarian National ...

Panayot Volov Panayot Volov ( bg, Панайот Волов; c.1850 – 26 May 1876), also known under pseudonym Petar Vankov ( bg, Петър Ванков)), was the organizer and leader of the Gyurgevo Revolutionary Committee of the Bulgarian April Uprising ...

* Stoyan Zaimov * Hristo Botev * Mara Buneva

Voivodes

Angel In various theistic religious traditions an angel is a supernatural spiritual being who serves God. Abrahamic religions often depict angels as benevolent celestial intermediaries between God (or Heaven) and humanity. Other roles ...

Apostol Petkov Apostol Petkov Terziev ( Bulgarian/ mk, Апостол Петков Терзиев) (May 6, 1869 – August 2, 1911) was a Macedonian Bulgarian revolutionary and one of the leaders of the national liberation movement in Ottoman Macedonia. He was a ...

* Chavdar * Ilyo * Indzhe * Karposh * Manush * Kapitan Petko Voyvoda

Academics

* Stephan Angeloff, microbiologist * Krassimir Atanassov, mathematician *

Angel Balevski Angel Balevski ( bg, Ангел Балевски) (4 March 1910 – 15 September 1997) was a Bulgarian inventor and engineer. Academician Balevski was president of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (1968-1988), Co-president of the International Aca ...

, inventor * Petar Beron, educator * Veselin Beshevliev, classicist * Georgi Bliznakoff, chemist * Kiril Bratanov, biologist *

Ljubomir Chakaloff Ljubomir Chakaloff (or Lubomir Nikolov Chakalov) was a Bulgarian mathematician. He was born in 1886 in Samokov and died in 1963 at the age of 77. He was unmarried at the time of his death. He graduated from Sofia University in June 1908, with an h ...

, mathematician * George Chaldakov, vascular biologist *

Stamen Grigorov Stamen Gigov Grigorov ( bg, Стамен Гигов Григоров; 27 October 1878 – 27 October 1945) was a prominent Bulgarian physician and microbiologist. He discovered the ''Lactobacillus bulgaricus'' bacillus, used in the making of yogur ...

, physician * Asen Hadjiolov, biologist * Anastas Ishirkov, human geographer * Christo Ivanov, organic chemist * Assen Jordanoff, airplane constructor * Rostislaw Kaischew, physical chemist * Ludmil Katzarkov, mathematician * Georgi Kitov, archaeologist *

Boicho Kokinov Boicho Kokinov ( bg, Бойчо Кокинов, 27 December 1960 – 10 May 2013) was an associate professor in cognitive science and computer science at the New Bulgarian University and the director of the Central and East European Center for Cogn ...

, cognitive scientist * Georgi Lozanov, psychologist * Georgi Manev, physicist * Stefan Marinov, dissident physicist * Marco Mincoff, literary scholar *

Georgi Nadjakov Georgi Nadjakov (also spelled Georgi Nadzhakov) ( bg, Георги Наджаков) (26 December 1896 – 24 February 1981) was a Bulgarian physicist. He became a corresponding member of the Göttingen Academy of Sciences (1940) in Germany, mem ...

, physicist, discovered the external photoeffect * Nikola Obreshkov, mathematician * Dimiter Orahovats, physiologist * Dimitar Paskov, pharmacist and chemist * Angel Penchev, neurologist * Peter Petroff, prolific inventor * Ivan Atanassov Petrov, neurologist * Stefka Petrova, nutritionist *

Dimitar Sasselov Dimitar D. Sasselov ( bg, Димитър Д. Съселов, born 1961) is a Bulgarian astronomer based in the United States. He is a Professor of Astronomy at Harvard University and director of the Harvard Origins of Life Initiative. In 2002, S ...

, astrophysicist * Blagovest Sendov, mathematician *

Ivan Stranski Ivan Nikolov Stranski ( bg, Иван Николов Странски; german: Iwan Nikolow Stranski; 2 January 1897 – 19 June 1979) was a Bulgarian physical chemist who is considered the father of crystal growth research. He was the founder o ...

, physical chemist, proposed the mechanism of Stranski-Krastanov growth *

Elka Todorova Elka Todorova ( bg, Елка Тодорова) is a researcher in the fields of sociology, psychology, and social work, working in the Institute of Sociology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences as a senior research associate. She is the author of 6 ...

, social psychologist * Evgeny Vatev, physicist, inventor * Asen Zlatarov, chemist * Vasil Zlatarski, historian

Economists

Stoyan Alexandrov Stoyan Alexandrov (; 14 June 1949 – 24 August 2020) was a Bulgarian economist, and the Minister of Finance under Prime Minister Lyuben Berov. Alexandrov was born in Iliya, Kystendil. A graduate of the Svishtov Academy of Economics, he was th ...

Lyuben Berov Lyuben Berov ( ) (6 October 1925 – 7 December 2006) was a Bulgarian economist. He served as Prime Minister of Bulgaria in the 83rd Government of Bulgaria from 30 December 1992 to 17 October 1994. Berov was born in Sofia, studied economics ...

Martin Dimitrov Martin Dimitrov ( bg, Мартин Димитров, born 13 April 1977 in Sofia) is a Bulgarian politician and former Member of the European Parliament. He was the leader of the Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) from 2008 to 2012. Biography ...

* Simeon Djankov * Nikolay Nenovsky * Antoaneta Vassileva

Philosophers

Peter Deunov Peter Dunoff ( ; bg, Петър Дънов ; July 11, 1864 – December 27, 1944), also known by his spiritual name Beinsa Douno ( bg, Беинса Дуно, links=no ), and often called the Master by his followers, was a Bulgarian philosopher an ...

* Julia Kristeva * Isaac Passy * Tzvetan Todorov * Maria Todorova

Sports

Athletics

* Rostislav Dimitrov, triple jumper * Yordanka Donkova, world record holder and one world title in

hurdling Hurdling is the act of jumping over an obstacle at a high speed or in a sprint. In the early 19th century, hurdlers ran at and jumped over each hurdle (sometimes known as 'burgles'), landing on both feet and checking their forward motion. Today, ...

(1988) *

Stefka Kostadinova Stefka Georgieva Kostadinova ( bg, Стефка Георгиева Костадинова; born March 25, 1965) is a Bulgarian retired athlete who competed in the high jump. Her world record of 2.09 metres has stood since 1987. She was the 1996 ...

, world record holder and two world titles in high jump (1987, 1995) * Tereza Marinova, triple jumper *

Khristo Markov Khristo Ganchev Markov ( bg, Христо Ганчев Мaрков; born 27 January 1965, in Dimitrovgrad) is a former triple jumper from Bulgaria, best known for becoming Olympic champion in 1988. He also won the European and world championships ...

, 1988 Olympic triple jump champion *

Petya Pendareva Petya Pendareva ( bg, Петя Пендарева) (born 20 January 1971, in Kazanlak) is a retired Bulgarian sprinter who specialized in the 100 metres. Achievements Personal bests *100 metres - 11.12 s (1998) *200 metres The 200 me ...

, sprinter * Iva Prandzheva, long jumper and triple jumper

Boxing

Georgi Kostadinov Georgi Kostadinov (born 16 January 1950) is a former boxer from Bulgaria. He competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics and the 1976 Summer Olympics. Amateur career Georgi Kostadinov won the Olympic flyweight gold medal at the 1972 Munich Olympi ...

, boxer, won the Olympic Flyweight gold medal at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games for Bulgaria *

Daisy Lang Daisy Lang (born 4 April 1972) is a former professional boxer who competed from 1996 to 2004. She is a former three division world champion and was the first Bulgarian woman to capture a world title, having held the WIBF super-flyweight, bantam ...

, boxer, world champion in three different weight categories *

Ivailo Marinov Ivailo Marinov ( bg, Ивайло Маринов; born 13 July 1960 in Varna, also known as Ismail Mustafov, Ismail Huseinov or Ivailo Khristov) is a Bulgarian boxer of Muslim Romani ancestry, who won the bronze medal at the 19 ...

, boxer, won the Olympic Flyweight gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, among others * Kubrat Pulev, boxer *

Tervel Pulev Tervel Venkov Pulev ( bg, Тервел Венков Пулев) is a Bulgarian professional boxer. He has held the WBA International cruiserweight title since December 2019 and previously the European Union cruiserweight title in 2018. He is t ...

, boxer *

Svilen Rusinov Svilen Aldinov Rusinov ( bg, Свилен Алдинов Русинов; born February 29, 1964 in Teteven) is a Bulgarian boxer, who twice competed at the Summer Olympics for his native country. He won a bronze medal in the super heavyweight div ...

, boxer

Chess

* Ivan Cheparinov, chess player *

Antoaneta Stefanova Antoaneta Stefanova ( bg, Антоанета Стефанова; born 19 April 1979) is a Bulgarian chess grandmaster and Women's World Champion from 2004 to 2006. She has represented Bulgaria in the Chess Olympiad in 2000 and the Women's Ches ...

Women's World Chess Champion The Women's World Chess Championship (WWCC) is played to determine the world champion in women's chess. Like the World Chess Championship, it is administered by FIDE. Unlike with most sports recognized by the International Olympic Committee, whe ...

(2004) * Silvio Danailov, chess player and manager * Veselin Topalov, World Chess Champion (2005)

Volleyball

* Aleksandra Delcheva * Strashimira Filipova * Lyubomir Ganev * Evgeni Ivanov *

Matey Kaziyski Matey Kaziyski ( bg, Матей Казийски) (born 23 September 1984) is a Bulgarian volleyball player, member of Bulgaria men's national volleyball team during 2003–2012 and Italian club Trentino Volley, a participant of the Olympic Game ...

Plamen Konstantinov Plamen Georgiev Konstantinov ( bg, Пламен Георгиев Константинов) (born 14 June 1973) is a former Bulgarian volleyball player, a member of Bulgaria men's national volleyball team, head coach of Lokomotiv Novosibirsk and f ...

* Nikolay Nikolov * Vladimir Nikolov *

Teodor Salparov Teodor Salparov ( bg, Теодор Салпаров born 16 August 1982) is a Bulgarian volleyball player, a member of the Bulgaria men's national volleyball team and the Bulgarian club VC Hebar Pazardzhik. He was a participant in the Olympic Gam ...

* Martin Stoev * Hristo Tsvetanov * Eva Yaneva *

Boyan Yordanov Boyan Yordanov ( bg, Боян Йорданов, born 12 March 1983) is a Bulgarian volleyball player, member of the Bulgaria men's national volleyball team. Boyan started his career in Levski (Siconco) Sofia. He made his first cap for Bulgaria i ...

* Ivan Zarev *

Antonina Zetova Antonina Zetova ( Bulgarian: Антонина Зетова) (born on 7 September 1973 in Pleven) is an international volleyball player from Bulgaria. Career As a left handed outside hitter 1.89 m tall Zetova lead the Bulgarian team to several ...

* Andrey Zhekov *

Dimitar Zlatanov Dimitar Zlatanov ( bg, Димитър Златанов; born 9 November 1948, in Ihtiman) is a retired Bulgarian volleyball player who is a three-time Olympian. He won a silver medal at the Volleyball at the 1980 Summer Olympics, 1980 Olympics, ...

Football

* Georgi Asparuhov * Krassimir Balakov * Dimitar Berbatov * Hristo Bonev *

Dinko Dermendzhiev Dinko Tsvetkov Dermendzhiev ( bg, Динко Цветков Дерменджиев; 2 June 1941 – 1 May 2019), nicknamed Chico was a Bulgarian footballer and coach. Club career Dinko Dermendzhiev began his youth career in Maritsa Plovdiv. Init ...

* Petar Houbchev * Trifon Ivanov * Ivan Kolev *

Emil Kostadinov Emil Lubtchov Kostadinov ( bg, Емил Любчов Костадинов; born 12 August 1967) is a Bulgarian former professional footballer who played as a forward and represented the Bulgaria national team at two World Cups. Club career ...

* Nikola Kotkov * Yordan Letchkov * Stanislav Manolev *

Borislav Mihaylov Borislav Biserov Mihaylov ( bg, Борислав Биcepoв Михайлов; born 12 February 1963) is a Bulgarian former professional footballer, who played as a goalkeeper, and President of the Bulgarian Football Union (2005 – 2019; 2021 � ...

* Dimitar Penev *

Luboslav Penev Lyuboslav Mladenov Penev ( bg, Любослав Младенов Пенев; born 31 August 1966) is a Bulgarian professional football manager and former player. Penev played as a forward for several clubs in Bulgaria and Spain. He started hi ...

Martin Petrov Martin Petyov Petrov ( bg, Мартин Петьов Петров; born 15 January 1979) is a Bulgarian former footballer who played as a winger. Club career Petrov began his career for Botev Vratsa. After a few good seasons, he signed with C ...

* Stiliyan Petrov *

Aleksandar Shalamanov Aleksandar Stefanov Shalamanov ( bg, Александър Cтефанов Шаламанов) (4 September 1941– 25 October 2021) was a football player and professional alpine skier and is known as the only Bulgarian who has participated in t ...

Nasko Sirakov Nasko Petkov Sirakov ( bg, Наско Петков Сираков; born 26 April 1962) is a Bulgarian retired professional footballer who played mainly as a striker. He is the major shareholder of Levski Sofia. Part of the Bulgaria national t ...

* Hristo Stoichkov * Darin Todorov * Emil Urumov *

Dimitar Yakimov Dimitar Nikolov Yakimov ( bg, Димитър Николов Якимов; born 12 August 1941) is a Bulgarian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder or forward. He represented Septemvri Sofia and CSKA Sofia at cl ...

Zlatko Yankov Zlatko Georgiev Yankov ( bg, Златко Георгиев Янков; born 7 June 1966) is a Bulgarian footballer manager and former player, who played as a midfielder. Career Yankov was capped 79 times and scored four goals for the Bulgaria n ...

* Petar Zhekov * Andrey Zhelyazkov

Tennis

* Grigor Dimitrov *

Katerina Maleeva Katerina Georgieva Maleeva ( bg, Катерина Георгиева Малеева; born 7 May 1969) is a former top 10 Bulgarian tennis player. She won eleven singles and two doubles WTA Tour titles. Her best position in the WTA rankings was ...

* Magdalena Maleeva *

Manuela Maleeva Manuela Georgieva Maleeva ( bg, Мануела Георгиева Малеева; born 14 February 1967) is a Bulgarian former professional tennis player. She played on the WTA Tour between 1982 and 1994. Through her marriage, Maleeva began ...

* Tsvetana Pironkova

Other sports

Blagoy Blagoev Blagoy Blagoev ( bg, Благой Благоев; born 4 December 1956) is a retired Bulgarian weightlifter Olympic weightlifting, or Olympic-style weightlifting (officially named Weightlifting), is a sport in which athletes compete in liftin ...

, silver medalist in Olympic Games (1980) and all-time senior world record holder in snatch (195.5 kg, competing at 90 kg) * Nikolay Bukhalov, two Olympic and five world titles in canoeing *

Albena Denkova Albena Petrova Denkova ( bg, Албена Петрова Денкова, born 3 December 1974) is a Bulgarian ice dancer. With partner and fiance Maxim Staviski, she is a two-time (2006– 2007) World champion, a two-time (2003– 2004) European ...

, World Figure Skating Champion in ice dancing (pairs) (2006, 2007) *

Vasil Etropolski Vasil Etropolski (born 18 March 1959) is a Bulgarian fencer and fencing coach. He competed in the individual and team sabre events at the 1980 and 1988 Summer Olympics. He also won the 1983 sabre world championship. He is the twin brother of ...

(born 1959), Olympic and world champion sabre fencer * Georgi Georgiev, two world titles in

Sambo , aka = Sombo (in English-speaking countries) , focus = Hybrid , country = Soviet Union , pioneers = Viktor Spiridonov, Vasili Oshchepkov, Anatoly Kharlampiev , famous_pract = List of Practitioners , olymp ...

(2003, 2006) * Maria Gigova, three rhythmic gymnastics world titles (1969, 1971, 1973),

Guinness World Records ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...

* Mariya Grozdeva, sport shooter * Ivan Ivanov, Olympic weightlifter * Tanyu Kiryakov, pistol shooter *

Dan Kolov Doncho Kolev Danev ( bg, Дончо Колев Данев) (26 December 1892 – 27 March 1940), better known by the ring name Dan Kolov ( bg, Дан Колов), was a Bulgarian professional wrestler and mixed martial artist born in Sennik, Bul ...

, wrestler * Kaloyan Mahlyanov ( Kotooshu), sumo wrestler * Maria Petrova, three rhythmic gymnastics world titles (1993, 1994, 1995),

Hristo Prodanov Hristo Prodanov ( bg, Христо Проданов) (24 February 1943 – 21 April 1984) was a Bulgarian mountaineer. Prodanov was the first Bulgarian to climb Mount Everest, doing it via the most difficult way—the West Ridge—as well as a ...

, mountaineer * Evgeniya Radanova, speed skater and racing cyclist * Neshka Robeva, rhythmic gymnast *

Alexander Rusev Miroslav Barnyashev ( bg, Мирослав Барняшев, ; born December 25, 1984) is a Bulgarian-American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he performs under the ring name Miro and is a one-ti ...

, wrestler, rower and powerlifter *

Valentin Yordanov Valentin Dimitrov Yordanov ( bg, Валентин Димитров Йорданов; born January 26, 1960), also transliterated Jordanov, is a retired Bulgarian freestyle wrestler who competed in the up to 52 kg weight class. He is an Oly ...

, two Olympic, seven world and seven European titles in

wrestling Wrestling is a series of combat sports involving grappling-type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. Wrestling techniques have been incorporated into martial arts, combat s ...

* Yordan Yovchev, world champion and six-time Olympic gymnast

Theology

Antim I Anthim I (, secular name Atanas Mihaylov Chalakov, ; 1816 – 1 December 1888) was a Bulgarian education figure and clergyman, and a participant in the Bulgarian liberation and church-independence movement. He was the first head of the Bulgarian ...

* Evtimiy of Tarnovo * Vladislav the Grammarian *

(Master Beinsa Douno), founder of the

Universal White Brotherhood The Universal White Brotherhood (UWB) is a religious movement founded in Bulgaria in 1897 by Peter Deunov. It was later established in France in 1937 by Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov, one of Deunov's followers. Their teachings are also known as "Du ...

Cuisine

* Silvena Rowe * Ivan Zvezdev

Criminals

* Borislav Georgiev * Emil Kyulev * Georgi Iliev *

Georgi Stoev Georgi Stoev ( bg, Георги Стоев; September 26, 1973 – April 7, 2008, Sofia) was a Bulgarian writer and former Bulgarian mafia mobster. Biography As a teenager he trained to be a wrestler and attended "Olympic Hopes" school in S ...

* Iliya Pavlov * Konstantin "Samokovetsa" Dimitrov * Vasil Iliev

Gallery

File:Saint Clement of Ohrid (icon, 13th-14th century).jpg, Saint Clement of Ohrid (840–916), often associated as the creator of the

Cyrillic script The Cyrillic script ( ), Slavonic script or the Slavic script, is a writing system used for various languages across Eurasia. It is the designated national script in various Slavic, Turkic, Mongolic, Uralic, Caucasian and Iranic-speaking c ...

File:Ivan Rilski - fresco from church in rila monastery-bulgaria.JPG, Saint Ivan of Rila (876–946), the patron saint of the Bulgarian people File:G danchov ivan asen.jpg, Tsar Ivan-Asen II (1191–1241), led the Second Bulgarian Empire to its largest territorial extent File:Ioannis Koukouzelis.jpg, Saint John Kukuzel (1280–1360), composer, singer and reformer of the Orthodox Church music, known as the "Angel-voiced" File:Panayot-Hitov.jpg, Panayot Hitov (1830–1918), revolutionary, hajduk and voivode, national hero of Bulgaria File:Stefan Karadja.jpg, Stefan Karadzha (1840–1868), revolutionary, voivode, national hero of Bulgaria File:Vasil Levski.jpg, Vasil Levski (1837–1873), revolutionary and national hero of Bulgaria File:Hristo botev.gif, Hristo Botev (1848–1876), revolutionary and poet, national hero of Bulgaria File:Georgi Benkovski.jpg, Georgi Benkovski (1843–1876), revolutionary and national hero of Bulgaria File:Panajot Volov.jpg,

(1850–1876), revolutionary and national hero of Bulgaria File:Todor Kableshkov2.jpg,

(1851–1876), revolutionary and national hero of Bulgaria File:Aleko konstantinov.jpg, Aleko Konstantinov (1863–1897), writer created one of the most popular Bulgarian works File:Natanail-Ohridski-Plovdivski.jpg, Metropolitan Nathanael Ohridski (1820–1906), revolutionary and organizer of the Kresna-Razlog Uprising File:G Delchev.jpg, Gotse Delchev (1872–1903), revolutionary and leader of the

Bulgarian Macedonian-Adrianople Revolutionary Committees The Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO; bg, Вътрешна Македонска Революционна Организация (ВМРО), translit=Vatrešna Makedonska Revoljucionna Organizacija (VMRO); mk, Внатр� ...

"…Goce Delchev and the other leaders of the BMORK were aware of Serbian and Greek ambitions in Macedonia. More important, they were aware that neither Belgrade nor Athens could expect to obtain the whole of Macedonia and, unlike Bulgaria, looked forward to and urged partition of this land. Autonomy, then, was the best prophylactic against partition – a prophylactic that would preserve the Bulgarian character of Macedonia's Christian population despite the separation from Bulgaria proper…" See
The Macedoine, (pp. 307-328 in of "The National Question in Yugoslavia. Origins, History, Politics"
by Ivo Banac, Cornell University Press, 1984) File:BASA-937K-1-410-7-Ivan Vazov (cropped).JPG, Ivan Vazov (1850–1921), considered as the best Bulgarian author of all time File:Todor Alexandrov by Günther József, 1912.jpg, Todor Aleksandrov (1881–1924), revolutionary and leader of the

Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization The Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (IMRO; bg, Вътрешна Македонска Революционна Организация (ВМРО), translit=Vatrešna Makedonska Revoljucionna Organizacija (VMRO); mk, Внатр� ...

, national hero of Bulgaria File:Vladimir Vazov.jpg, Vladimir Vazov (1868–1945), general and war hero File:Elin Pelin monument.jpg,

(1877–1949), considered as the best Bulgarian narrator File:John.atanasoff.jpeg, John Atanasoff (1903–1995), Bulgarian-American physicist, inventor of the computer File:Christo und Jeanne-Claude.jpg, Christo (left), wrapper of the Reichstag in Berlin, the

Pont-Neuf The Pont Neuf (, "New Bridge") is the oldest standing bridge across the river Seine in Paris, France. It stands by the western (downstream) point of the Île de la Cité, the island in the middle of the river that was, between 250 and 225 BC ...

bridge in Paris, the artwork called Running Fence in Sonoma and Marin counties in California and The Gates in New York City's

Central Park Central Park is an urban park in New York City located between the Upper West and Upper East Sides of Manhattan. It is the fifth-largest park in the city, covering . It is the most visited urban park in the United States, with an estimated ...

File:Kotooshu winning Emperor's Cup 2008 May.jpg, Kaloyan Mahlyanov, the only European sumo wrestler who is winner of the Emperor's Cup File:Hristo stoichkov-2010.jpg, Hristo Stoichkov, football

player Player may refer to: Role or adjective * Player (game), a participant in a game or sport ** Gamer, a player in video and tabletop games ** Athlete, a player in sports ** Player character, a character in a video game or role playing game who is ...

1994 FIFA World Cup The 1994 FIFA World Cup was the 15th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national soccer teams. It was hosted by the United States and took place from June 17 to July 17, 1994, at nine venues across the country. The United States ...

top scorer and winner of the Golden Shoe and the Golden Ball File:Veselin Topalov Sofia Airport 24.10.2005.pic-01.jpg, Veselin Topalov, 2005–2006 World Chess Champion File:Berbatov.jpg, Dimitar Berbatov, football

File:Ivet Lalova Berlin 2009 cropped.JPG, Ivet Lalova, 12th-fastest woman in the history of the 100 metres File:Dilma-shash.JPG,

Dilma Rousseff Dilma Vana Rousseff (; born 14 December 1947) is a Brazilian economist and politician who served as the 36th president of Brazil, holding the position from 2011 until her impeachment and removal from office on 31 August 2016. She is the first ...

, Bulgarian-Brazilian politician and former

President of Brazil The president of Brazil ( pt, Presidente do Brasil), officially the president of the Federative Republic of Brazil ( pt, Presidente da República Federativa do Brasil) or simply the ''President of the Republic'', is the head of state and head o ...

File:Nina Dobrev during an interview in August 2018 02.png, Nina Dobrev, Bulgarian-American actress

Notes

{{Bulgaria topics *