Bulgarian names. Importance of female and male Bulgarian names

In Bulgaria there are many names that often bear a special meaning. These parents try to show the character traits of the child or give it some special features. Often, Bulgarian names are a kind of wish for a person born to prosperity, success or health. Today we will try to consider not only their meanings, but also to understand which names in this state are the most popular, how they are formed and what Bulgarian traditions are observed when children are called.

Origin of Bulgarian names

The most common and popular Bulgarian names are of Slavic origin. They became firmly established after the adoption of Christianity as the main faith. Greek, Latin and Old Jewish names have gained considerable popularity . Strange as it may seem, Turkish rule in Bulgaria had little effect on the variety of names, since the indigenous inhabitants of the state rarely called their children Muslim. For a long time, parents named sons in honor of the Slav princes Alexander and Vladimir.

Since the middle of the 20th century, the names of Western European and American descent have gained popularity. Bulgarian names (female and male) during this period were enriched with new forms due to popular movie heroes, singers and actors.

Be that as it may, they call Bulgarian men and women in a special way, even if the names are formed from words that are often used in other countries. Agree, it's rare in what country in Europe, America or Asia you can hear how the girl's name is Milana or Luchezara, and the men are Tsvetana or Yasen.

Traditions: how to give a name in Bulgaria

The Bulgarian names, especially the masculine, were preserved unchanged due to the name of descendants in honor of their grandfathers or great-grandfathers. A special system, which consists in a sequence of inheritance, did not exist. The older child could be called as a grandparent, regardless of what sex the baby is. Bulgarian names in this regard are unique: boys and girls are often called the same. An example of this can be the male name Zhivko and the female Zhivka, Spaska and Spas, Kalin and Kalina.

In addition, the Bulgarian names of girls and boys are chosen in accordance with the church calendar. In this case, the children are named after the saints, on whose day they were born. Also in Bulgaria they still believe in the power of the word as such, therefore, names of plants or properties of human character are often names for young Bulgarians.

Women's names in Bulgaria and their meaning

So, we already in general terms learned what the Bulgarian names are. Female and male, as mentioned above, are often consonant or have the same meaning. But there are those, whose sound is unique not only for a specific country, but for the whole world. They include such names as Gisela ("beauty"), Smaragda ("jewel"), Salvina (healthy), Babylonia ("God's gate") and so on.

A lot of women's names in Bulgaria are given to girls as an amulet. For example, Blazhen, according to the Bulgarians, should give the girl happiness, and Iskra - with sincerity. A radiant girl is called in case she wants to give her strength, Demira - when the girl needs the hardness of the spirit. Several names for little Bulgarians originate in myths and legends. So, Veda means "mermaid" or "forest fairy", Xantha - "golden-haired", Luchezara - "heavenly star".

Men's Bulgarian names

The value of Bulgarian names for boys is also varied, as in girls. There is a whole list. At the same time, some of the names are able to endow the boy with certain qualities: Bloommir ("bringing good to the world"), Boyan ("strong spirit fighter"), Branimir ("defending the world"), Nicolaas ("conquering nations"), Peter or Penko (" Strong as a rock, rock ").

Bulgarian names (masculine) are often associated with the nature of the person or the main occupation in the family. For example, Georgie and Dimitar are the two most popular names for peasants working on the land. They are translated as "farmer". The name Philip ("loving horses") was more often given to children in families of grooms, riders or stud breeders.

Love for children, the desire to give them beauty in appearance and character also affected the male names in Bulgaria. For example, Luben (love), Lyudmila (dear people) and Tsvetan (flower) are still often found in this country. Also in Bulgaria they believe that luck and respect will be in the future for those named Slava ("bird"), Sokol, Zvezdelin ("star") or Jan ("worshiping God").

Popular names in Bulgaria for boys and girls

Over the past decade, the most popular names for Bulgarian girls are Elijah, Rosica, Rada (Radka) and Mariika. They call about 20% of all newborn girls. Slightly less popular are Parking, Vasilka, Stefka and Yordanka. Bulgarian names for boys, gaining popularity in recent years, do not have a great exotic sound. Most often, boys are called Petrias, Rumen, Todors and Ivan. Slightly less popular were Nikola, Atanas, Marin and Angel.

"Tiny" names

In addition to the official ones, it is customary in Bulgaria to use the so-called "tiny" names, which are an abridged version of the name given at birth. In relation to women, this tradition is rarely used, but male names are often reduced beyond recognition. An example of this can serve as George: in Bulgaria, men with this name are often called Gosho, Gezha, Gogo or Zhoro. But Todor can be pronounced as Tosho, Totio or Toshko. In rare cases, a "tiny" name can become independent and official, after which it can be entered into documents.