Popov (; masculine), or Popova (; feminine), is a common

Russian Russian(s) may refer to: *Russians (), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries *A citizen of Russia *Russian language, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages *''The Russians'', a b ...

, Bulgarian,

Macedonian Macedonian most often refers to someone or something from or related to Macedonia. Macedonian(s) may refer to: People Modern * Macedonians (ethnic group), a nation and a South Slavic ethnic group primarily associated with North Macedonia * Mac ...

and

Serbian Serbian may refer to: * Pertaining to Serbia in Southeast Europe; in particular **Serbs, a South Slavic ethnic group native to the Balkans ** Serbian language ** Serbian culture **Demographics of Serbia, includes other ethnic groups within the co ...

surname. Derived from a Slavonic word ''pop'' (, "

priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deity, deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in parti ...

"). The fourth most common Russian surname, it may refer to: *

Alek Popov Alek Vasilev Popov (; 16 January 1966 – 22 March 2024) was a Bulgarian novelist, short story writer, essayist and scriptwriter, author of the novel ''Mission London''. Biography Alek Popov was born in Sofia on 16 January 1966.Alexander Popov (disambiguation) Aleksandr or Alexander Popov may refer to: Science *Aleksandr Popov (geologist) (1913–1993), Soviet permafrost researcher *Aleksandr Popov (chemist) (1840–1881), Russian organic chemist *Aleksandr Popov (physicist) (1859–1906), Russian phys ...

* Aleksei Popov (disambiguation) *

Anatoly Popov Anatoly Alexandrovich Popov (; born July 10, 1960) is an ethnic Russian who was the Prime Minister of the Chechen Republic, Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list ...

(born 1960), Russian politician, Prime Minister of Chechnya * Andrei Popov (disambiguation) * Angel Popov (born 1979), Bulgarian-born Qatari weightlifter *

Apostol Popov Apostol Aleksandrov Popov (; born 22 December 1982) is a Bulgarian former professional footballer and currently assistant manager of CSKA 1948 III. Career Early career Popov began his career with Spartak Plovdiv and made his first team debut i ...

(born 1982), Bulgarian football defender *

Blagoy Popov Blagoy Simeonov Popov () (22 November 1902 – 28 December 1968) was a Bulgarian Communist activist and Comintern executive who was one of the co-defendants along with Georgi Dimitrov and Vasil Tanev in the Leipzig trial. After the trial, ...

(1902–1968) * Boris Popov (born 1941), Russian water polo player *

Christo Popov Christo Popov (born 8 March 2002) is a French badminton player who affiliate with Fos club. He won the men's doubles gold at the 2025 European Championships with his brother Toma Junior Popov. He also won a silver in the men's singles and a bron ...

(born 2002), Bulgarian-born French badminton player * Denis Popov (born 1979), Russian football player and manager * Denis Popov, (born 2002) Russian football player * Denys Popov (born 1999), Ukrainian football player *

Dilyana Popova Dilyana Popova (; born 24 September 1981) is a Bulgarian actress and model. Born in Gulyantsi, she lived there until grade 8 when she relocated to Pleven. Popova subsequently studied modelling design at New Bulgarian University. In 2010, she wa ...

(born 1981), Bulgarian actress and model * Dimitar Popov (born 1970), Bulgarian footballer *

Dimitar Ivanov Popov Dimitar Ivanov Popov () (October 13, 1894 – October 25, 1975) was a Bulgarian organic chemist and an academician of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (abbreviated BAS; , ''Bŭlgarska akademiya na naukite'' ...

(1894–1975), Bulgarian organic chemist *

Dimitar Iliev Popov Dimitar Iliev Popov (Pokriva) ( ; 26 June 1927 – 5 December 2015) was a leading Bulgarian judge and the first Prime Minister of the country not to be a member of the Bulgarian Communist Party since 1946. He was also the first Prime Minister sinc ...

(1927–2015), Bulgarian judge and Prime Minister *

Dmitri Popov (disambiguation) Dmitri Popov (born 1967) is a Russian footballer. Dmitri Popov may also refer to: * Dmitry Ivanovich Popov (1892–1921), revolutionary of Russia * Dmitry Yakovlevich Popov (1863–1921), Russian priest and revolutionary, a deputy of the Fourth ...

Duško Popov Dušan "Duško" Popov ( sr-Cyrl, Душко Попов; 10 July 1912 – 10 August 1981) was a Serbian intelligence agent, lawyer and businessman who served as a double agent for MI6 during World War II. Feigning to be an asset of the Ge ...

(1912–1981), Serbian double-agent, known as Tricycle *

Egor Popov Egor Pavlovich Popov (; February 6, 1913 – April 19, 2001) was a structural and seismic engineer who helped transform the design of buildings, structures, and civil engineering around earthquake-prone regions. A relative of inventor Alexander ...

(1913–2001), Russian-American structural and seismic engineer *

Fedot Popov Fedot Alekseyevich Popov (, also Fedot Alekseyev, ; nickname Kholmogorian, , for his place of birth ( Kholmogory), date of birth unknown, died between 1648 and 1654) was a Russian explorer who organized the first European expedition through the Be ...

(died between 1648 and 1654), Russian explorer *

Gavriil Popov (composer) Gavriil Nikolayevich Popov (; 12 September 1904 – 17 February 1972) was a Soviet composer. Life and career Popov studied at the Leningrad Conservatory from 1922 until 1930 with Leonid Vladimirovich Nikolayev, Vladimir Shcherbachov, and Ma ...

(1904–1972), Russian composer *

Gavriil Popov (politician) Gavriil Kharitonovich Popov ( rus, Гавриил Харитонович Попов, p=ɡəvrʲɪˈiɫ xərʲɪˈtonəvʲɪtɕ pɐˈpof; born 31 October 1936), anglicised as Gabriel Popov, is a Russian politician and economist. He served as the m ...

(born 1936), Russian politician *

George Basil Popov George Basil Popov MBE (1922, in Iran – 22 December 1998, in London), was a Russian-British entomologist born in Iran, his father having been employed there by the Imperial Bank of Persia. Popov became an authority on the Desert locust. Geo ...

(1922–1998) a Russian-British

entomologist Entomology (from Ancient Greek ἔντομον (''éntomon''), meaning "insect", and -logy from λόγος (''lógos''), meaning "study") is the branch of zoology that focuses on insects. Those who study entomology are known as entomologists. In ...

born in Iran * Georgi Popov (born 1941), Bulgarian chess player * Georgi Alexandrov Popov (born 1937), Bulgarian

chess player This list of chess players includes people who are primarily known as chess players and have an article on the English Wikipedia. A * Jacob Aagaard (Denmark, Scotland, born 1973) * Manuel Aaron (India, born 1935) * Nijat Abasov (Azerbaijan, bor ...

(GMC), member of the ICCF Bulgaria * Georgi Dimitrov Popov (1944–2024), Bulgarian football player * Georgi Vladimirovich Popov (1912–1974) was a Soviet weightlifter. * Georgy Arturovich Popov (born 2001), Russian taekwondo athlete *

Goran Popov Goran Popov (; born 2 October 1984) is a Macedonian former professional Association football, footballer who played as a Defender (association football), defender. Popov started his career with local side FK Belasica, Belasica and moved to Gree ...

(born 1984), Macedonian footballer * Haralan Popov (1907–1988), Bulgarian church minister * Hristian Popov (born 1990), Bulgarian football player * Ilya Popov (born 2000), Russian boxer * Ivan Popov (born 1975), Russian general * Ivan Popov (born 1990), Russian chess Grandmaster *

Ivelin Popov Ivelin Ivanov Popov (; born 26 October 1987) is a Bulgarian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Bulgarian First League club Botev Plovdiv. Club career Youth career Born in Sofia, Popov started to play football in ...

(born 1987), Bulgarian footballer *

Katia Popov Katia Popov (; 3 March 1965 – 18 May 2018), born in Bulgaria and later living in California, was a violinist, playing as soloist, in chamber music and in orchestras; she was concertmaster of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Life She was born in S ...

(1965–2018), Bulgarian-born American violinist *

Leonid Popov Leonid Ivanovich Popov (, ; born August 31, 1945) is a former Soviet cosmonaut. Biography Popov was born in Oleksandriia, Kirovohrad Oblast, Ukrainian SSR. He was selected as a cosmonaut on April 27, 1970, and flew as Commander on Soyuz 35, ...

(born 1945), Soviet cosmonaut * Luben Popov (born 1936), Bulgarian chess player *

Markian Popov Markian Mikhaylovich Popov (; 15 November 1902 – 22 April 1969) was a Soviet military commander, Army general (Soviet Union), Army General (26 August 1943), and Hero of the Soviet Union (1965). Early life Markian Popov was born in 1902 in U ...

(1902–1969), Soviet Army General * Mikhail Popov (disambiguation) * Nikolay Popov (disambiguation) *

Oleg Popov Oleg Konstantinovich Popov (, 31 July 1930 – 2 November 2016) was a Soviet and Russian clown and circus artist. He was awarded People's Artist of the USSR in 1969. Early life Popov was born on 31 July 1930, the son of a clock-repairman. At a ...

(1930–2016), Russian circus artist *

Pavel Popov Pavel Anatolyevich Popov (; born 1 January 1957) is a retired Russian army officer who was the Deputy Minister of Defense between 7 November 2013 and 17 June 2024. He holds the rank of General of the Reserve Army. Popov had previously been the ...

(born 1957), Russian military officer *

Polina Popova Polina Alexeyevna Popova (; born 1 June 1995) is a Russian model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Russia 2017. She represented Russia at the Miss World 2017 competition, where she placed in the Top 10. Early life Popova was ...

(born 1995), Miss Russia 2017 * Pyotr Popov (born 1985), Russian luger *

Pyotr Semyonovich Popov Pyotr Semyonovich Popov (; July 1923 – January 1960) was a colonel in the Soviet military intelligence apparatus (GRU). He was the first GRU officer to offer his services to the Central Intelligence Agency after World War II. Between 1953 and 195 ...

(1923–1960), Soviet intelligence officer and double agent * Robert Popov (born 1982), Macedonian footballer * Rumen Popov (born 1983), Bulgarian football player * Sergei Popov (disambiguation) *

Serhiy Popov Serhiy Oleksandrovych Popov (; born 22 April 1971) is a Ukrainian football manager and former footballer. He is the highest scoring defender of the Ukraine national football team. Career Popov is a graduate of the Donetsk sports school of Olymp ...

(born 1971), Ukrainian footballer * Stefan Popov (musician) (born 1940) a Bulgarian cellist *

Stole Popov Stole Popov (; born 1950) is a Macedonian film director. Biography He was born 20 August 1950 in Skopje, Yugoslavia. He graduated film directing at the Academy of Theatre, Film & Television in Belgrade. He is currently a film directing profess ...

(born 1950), Macedonian film director. * Strahil Popov (born 1990), Bulgarian footballer *

Toma Junior Popov Toma Junior Popov (born 29 September 1998) is a French badminton player. Partnered with his brother Christo Popov, he won the men's doubles gold at the 2025 European Championships. He competed at the 2018 Mediterranean Games and claimed the men ...

(born 1998), Bulgarian-born French badminton player * Valery Popov (disambiguation) * Vasile M. Popov (born 1928), Romanian-born scientist and systems theorist * Vasili Popov (disambiguation) * Victor Popov (1937–1994), Russian theoretical physicist * Vladimir Popov (disambiguation) * Yevgeni Popov (disambiguation) * Yuri Alexandrovich Popov (1936–2016), Russian paleoentomologist

Fictional people

* Nadia Popov, character in the British children's program ''

Rentaghost ''Rentaghost'' is a British children's television comedy show, originally broadcast by the BBC between 6 January 1976 and 6 November 1984. The show's plot centred on the antics of a number of ghosts who worked for a firm called Rentaghost, which ...

'' * Boris Vyacheslavovich Popov, character in Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance

Popova

* Alena Popova, Kazakhstani volleyballer *

Daria Popova Daria Popova (born 28 July 1993) is a Russian former competitive pair skater. From 2011 to 2014, she competed with Bruno Massot, winning the 2014 Challenge Cup and the 2012 French national title. The pair finished in the top ten at the 2012 and ...

, Russian pair skater *

Diana Popova Diana Antonieva Popova (; born 10 December 1976, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria) is a Bulgarian rhythmic gymnastics coach and former rhythmic gymnast who competed at two Olympic Games (1992, 1996) and won several medals at the World and European champion ...

, Bulgarian gymnast *

Dina Popova Dina Olehivna Popova (), also known as Diana (; 16 July 1977 – 13 April 2025) was a Ukrainian financier and businesswoman. Appointed the head of the Kyiv History Museum in September 2022, she was also the head of the Department of Culture of ...

(1977–2025), Ukrainian financier and entrepreneur * Faton Popova, German footballer *

Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń (Bulgarian: Екатерина Попова) (born 30 April 1948 in Sofia) is a Polish pianist of Bulgarian descent. She studied at the Poznań Music Academy, then graduated with honours from the State High School of Musi ...

, Polish pianist and pedagogue of Bulgarian descent *

Ksenia Popova Ksenia Popova (born 1988) is a World Champion open water swimmer from Russia. At the 2008 Open Water Worlds, she won the Women's 25K race. She has swum for Russia at the: * World Championships: 2003,Women's 25K results from the 2003 World Cham ...

, Russian open water swimmer * Larisa Popova, Moldovan rower *

Lyubov Popova Lyubov Sergeyevna Popova (; April 24, 1889 – May 25, 1924) was a Russian-Soviet avant-garde artist, Painting, painter and designer. Early life Popova was born in Ivanovskoye District, Ivanovskoe, near Moscow, to the wealthy family of Sergei ...

(1889–1924), Russian avant-garde artist *

Margarita Popova Margarita Stefanova Popova (; born 15 May 1957) is a Bulgarian jurist, prosecutor, educator who was Vice President of Bulgaria from 2012 to 2017. She previously served as Minister of Justice from 27 July 2009 to 4 September 2011 in the cabinet o ...

, former Bulgarian Minister of Justice *

Mariana Popova Mariana Popova () (born 6 June 1978) is a Bulgarian singer. She is known for representing Bulgaria at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, trainer on The Voice of Bulgaria 2011 and from Vip Brother 2012 – Bulgaria. Biography Mariana Popova w ...

(born 1978), Bulgarian singer *

Nadezhda Popova Nadezhda Vasilyevna Popova (, ; 17 December 1921 – 8 July 2013) was a squadron commander in the 46th Taman Guards Night Bomber Regiment during the Second World War who achieved significant domestic publicity after completing 18 bombing sorties ...

, Soviet military pilot * Natalia Popova, Ukrainian figure skater * Natalia Popova (born 1976), Belarusian chess master * Nina Popova (1908–1994), Soviet official *

Roza Popova Ruska Mihaylova Manuilova (, 1879 – 11 April 1949) or better known as her stage name Roza Popova (), was a Bulgarian actress and theater director and the wife of the Bulgarian writer Chicho Stoyan. Biography Early life and debut Ro ...

(1879–1949), Bulgarian actress and theatre director * Sofka Popova, Bulgarian runner * Tamara Popova, Soviet sprint canoer *

Tatiana Popova (basketball) Tatiana Popova (born 17 September 1984) is a Russian professional basketball player. She plays for Russia women's national basketball team. She competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics The 2012 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the X ...

, Russian basketball player * Valentina Popova (born 1972), Russian weightlifter * Vera Popova, Russian chemist *

Veronika Popova Veronika Andreyevna Andrusenko (née Popova) (; born 20 January 1991) is a Russian competitive swimmer. At the 2012 Summer Olympics The 2012 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XXX Olympiad and also known as London 2012, were a ...

, Russian swimmer

Fictional people

Popova

See also