List of Bulgarians
This is a list of famous or notable Bulgarians throughout history.
Bulgarian monarchs
- Kubrat
- Batbayan
- Asparukh of Bulgaria
- Tervel of Bulgaria
- Kormesiy of Bulgaria
- Sevar of Bulgaria
- Kormisosh of Bulgaria
- Vinekh of Bulgaria
- Telets of Bulgaria
- Sabin of Bulgaria
- Umor of Bulgaria
- Toktu of Bulgaria
- Pagan of Bulgaria
- Telerig of Bulgaria
- Kardam of Bulgaria
- Krum of Bulgaria
- Omurtag of Bulgaria
- Malamir of Bulgaria
- Presian of Bulgaria
- Boris I Michael
- Simeon the Great
- Peter I of Bulgaria
- Boris II of Bulgaria
- Roman of Bulgaria
- Samuil of Bulgaria
- Gavril Radomir of Bulgaria
- Ivan Vladislav of Bulgaria
- Presian II of Bulgaria
- Peter Delyan of Bulgaria
- Constantin Bodin
- Ivan Asen I of Bulgaria
- Peter IV of Bulgaria
- Kaloyan of Bulgaria
- Boril of Bulgaria
- Ivan Asen II of Bulgaria
- Kaliman I of Bulgaria
- Michael Asen I of Bulgaria
- Kaliman II of Bulgaria
- Mitso Asen of Bulgaria
- Constantine Tikh of Bulgaria
- Michael Asen II of Bulgaria
- Ivaylo of Bulgaria
- Ivan Asen III of Bulgaria
- George I of Bulgaria
- Smilets of Bulgaria
- Chaka of Bulgaria
- Theodore Svetoslav of Bulgaria
- George II of Bulgaria
- Michael III Shishman of Bulgaria
- Ivan Stephen of Bulgaria
- Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria
- Ivan Shishman of Bulgaria
- Ivan Sratsimir of Bulgaria
- Constantine II of Bulgaria
- Alexander I of Bulgaria
- Ferdinand I of Bulgaria
- Boris III of Bulgaria
- Simeon II of Bulgaria
Performing arts
Directors
- Stephen C. Apostolof
- Christo Christov
- Slatan Dudow
- Georgi Djulgerov
- Tonislav Hristov
- Lyudmil Kirkov
- Nikola Korabov
- Nikola Kovachev
- Vulo Radev
- Petar B. Vasilev
- Binka Zhelyazkova
Actors and actresses
- Zahari Baharov
- George Baker
- Nikolay Binev
- Stefan Danailov
- Nina Dobrev
- Yana Marinova
- Itzhak Fintzi
- Georgi Georgiev
- Georgi Georgiev-Getz
- Kiril Gospodinov
- Stanislav Ianevski
- Gloria Ivanova
- Georgi Kaloyanchev
- Apostol Karamitev
- Nevena Kokanova
- Todor Kolev
- Victoria Koleva
- Julian Kostov
- Marius Kurkinski
- Moni Moshonov, Bulgarian-born Israeli actor and comedian
- Stoyanka Mutafova
- Lyubomir Neikov
- Georgi Partsalev
- Katya Paskaleva
- Bashar Rahal
- Hristo Shopov
- Naum Shopov
- Petar Slabakov
- Kosta Tsonev
- Grigor Vachkov
Models
- Nina Dobrev
- Yana Marinova
- Nansi Karaboycheva
- Silvia Dimitrova
- Diliana Popova
Dancers
- Asen Gavrilov
Journalists
- Oggy Boytchev
- Nikolay Kolev - Michmana
- Elena Yoncheva
Television
- Todor Kolev
- Niki Kunchev
- Milen Tsvetkov
- Aleksandra Sarchadjieva
- Slavi Trifonov
Literature
Authors
- Elisaveta Bagryana
- Petar Beron
- Ran Bosilek
- Assen Bossev
- Hristo Botev
- Elias Canetti
- Dobri Chintulov
- Chudomir
- Clement of Ohrid
- Constantine of Preslav
- Atanas Dalchev
- Dimcho Debelyanov
- Alexenia Dimitrova
- Dimitar Dimov
- Vasil Drumev
- Petya Dubarova
- John Exarch
- Dora Gabe
- Nikolai Haitov
- Paisiy Hilendarski
- Chernorizetz Hrabar
- Nikolai Hristozov
- Angel Karaliychev
- Lyuben Karavelov
- Stefan Kisyov
- Aleko Konstantinov
- Miladinov Brothers
- Marco Mincoff
- Aleksandra Monedzhikova
- Grigor Parlichev
- Elin Pelin
- Ivailo Petrov
- Valeri Petrov
- Julian Popov
- Maria Popova
- Yordan Radichkov
- Radoy Ralin
- Kuzman Shapkarev
- Pencho Slaveykov
- Petko Slaveykov
- Hristo Smirnenski
- Emiliyan Stanev
- Zahari Stoyanov
- Anton Strashimirov
- Stanislav Stratiev
- Edvin Sugarev
- Dimitar Talev
- Tzvetan Todorov
- Stefan Tzanev
- Nikola Vaptsarov
- Ivan Vazov
- Pavel Vezhinov
- Vladislav the Grammarian
- Dobri Voinikov
- Sofronii Vrachanski
- Peyo Yavorov
- Nedyalko Yordanov
- Yordan Yovkov
Music
Composers
- Nikola Atanasov
- Victor Chuchkov
- Alexandra Fol
- Marin Goleminov
- Michail Goleminov
- Dobri Hristov
- Nikolay Kaufman
- Nikolo Kotzev
- Petar Krumov
- John Kukuzelis
- Filip Kutev
- Kiril Lambov
- Milcho Leviev
- Emanuil Manolov
- Georgi Minchev
- Dimitar Nenov
- Ivo Papasov
- Albena Petrovic-Vratchanska
- Stefan Popov
- Anna-Maria Ravnopolska-Dean
- Petko Stainov
- Dobrinka Tabakova
- Ralitsa Tcholakova
- Georgi Tutev
- Stefan Valdobrev
- Pancho Vladigerov
Singers and musicians
- Alexis Weissenberg
- Andrea
- Angela Tosheva
- Ivan Yanakov
- Boris Christoff
- Christina Morfova
- Desi Slava
- Elena Nicolai
- Emil Dimitrov
- Gena Dimitrova
- Georgi Minchev
- Gery-Nikol
- Gloria
- Ivanka Ninova
- Ivo Papasov
- Kiril Marichkov
- Kamen Tchanev
- Lili Ivanova
- Ljuba Welitsch
- Ludmilla Diakovska
- Marius Kurkinski
- Mira Aroyo
- Nayden Todorov
- Neva Krysteva
- Nicolai Ghiaurov
- Nikola Giuzelev
- Poli Genova
- Raina Kabaivanska
- Ralitsa Tcholakova
- Slavi Trifonov
- Spens
- Stefan Valdobrev
- Svetla Protich
- Theodosii Spassov
- Valya Balkanska
- Vassil Naidenov
- Vesselina Kasarova
- Yildiz Ibrahimova
- Yoan Kukuzel
Visual arts
Architects
- Victoria Angelova, Bulgaria's first woman architect
- Milka Bliznakov
- Andrey Damyanov
- Kolyu Ficheto
- Georgi Fingov
- Naum Torbov
Painters
- Angel Metodiev
- Bencho Obreshkov
- Boris Georgiev
- Christo Yavashev – Christo
- Chudomir
- Dechko Uzunov
- Dimitre Mehandjiysky
- Ekaterina Savova-Nenova
- George Papazov
- Hristofor Zhefarovich
- Ilia Beshkov
- Ivan Markvichka
- Ivan Nenov
- Jules Pascin
- Keratza Vissulceva
- Konstantin Shtarkelov
- Nikola Avramov
- Nikola Marinov
- 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
- Peter Lazarov, graphic artist
- Alex Maleev, cartoonist
- Toma Tomov, graphic artist
Business
- Delyan Peevski
- Emil Kyulev
- Georgi Naydenov
- Iliya Pavlov
- Kroum Pindoff
- Tihomir Kamenov
State
Politicians
- Georgi Atanasov
- Prince Alexander of Battenberg
- Nikola Mushanov
- Boyko Borisov
- Todor Burmov
- Teodor Teodorov
- Filip Dimitrov
- Georgi Dimitrov
- Konstantin Dimitrov
- Simeon Djankov
- Kimon Georgiev
- Reneta Indzhova
- Vasil Kolarov
- Ivan Kostov
- Andrey Lukanov
- Nadezhda Mihailova
- 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
- Gotse Delchev
- Tsanko Dyustabanov
- Hadzhi Dimitar
- Panayot Hitov
- Todor Kableshkov
- Stefan Karadzha
- Lyuben Karavelov
- Vasil Levski
- Georgi Obretenov
- Nikola Karev
- Nikola Obretenov
- Tonka Obretenova
- Gjorche Petrov
- Yane Sandanski
- Boris Sarafov
- Georgi Sava Rakovski
- Hristo Tatarchev
- Filip Totyu
- Panayot Volov
- Stoyan Zaimov
- Hristo Botev
- Mara Buneva
Voivodes
- Angel
- Apostol Petkov
- Chavdar
- Ilyo
- Indzhe
- Karposh
- Manush
- Kapitan Petko Voyvoda
Academics
- Stephan Angeloff, microbiologist
- Krassimir Atanassov, mathematician
- Angel Balevski, inventor
- Petar Beron, educator
- Veselin Beshevliev, classicist
- Georgi Bliznakoff, chemist
- Kiril Bratanov, biologist
- Ljubomir Chakaloff, mathematician
- George Chaldakov, vascular biologist
- Simeon Djankov, economist
- Stamen Grigorov, physician
- Asen Hadjiolov, biologist
- Anastas Ishirkov, human geographer
- Christo Ivanov, organic chemist
- Assen Jordanoff, airplane constructor
- Rostislaw Kaischew, physical chemist
- :de:Ludmil Katzarkov|Ludmil Katzarkov, mathematician
- Georgi Kitov, archaeologist
- Boicho Kokinov, cognitive scientist
- Georgi Lozanov, psychologist
- Georgi Manev, physicist
- Stefan Marinov, dissident physicist
- Georgi Nadjakov, 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, astrophysicist
- Blagovest Sendov, mathematician
- Ivan Stranski, physical chemist, proposed the mechanism of Stranski-Krastanov growth
- Elka Todorova, social psychologist
- Evgeny Vatev, physicist, inventor
- Asen Zlatarov, chemist
- Vasil Zlatarski, historian
Economists
- Stoyan Alexandrov
- Lyuben Berov
- Martin Dimitrov
- Simeon Djankov
- Nikolay Nenovsky
- Antoaneta Vassileva
Philosophers
- Peter Deunov
- 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
- Stefka Kostadinova, world record holder and two world titles in high jump
- Tereza Marinova
- Petya Pendareva, sprinter
- Iva Prandzheva
Boxing
- Georgi Kostadinov, boxer, won the Olympic Flyweight gold medal at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games for Bulgaria
- Daisy Lang, boxer, world champion in three different weight categories
- Ivailo Marinov, boxer, won the Olympic Flyweight gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, among others
- Kubrat Pulev, boxer
- Tervel Pulev, boxer
- Svilen Rusinov, boxer
Chess
- Ivan Cheparinov, chess player
- Antoaneta Stefanova, Women's World Chess Champion
- Silvio Danailov, manager
- Veselin Topalov, FIDE World Chess Champion
Volleyball
- Aleksandra Delcheva
- Strashimira Filipova
- Lyubomir Ganev
- Evgeni Ivanov
- Matey Kaziyski
- Plamen Konstantinov
- Nikolay Nikolov
- Vladimir Nikolov
- Teodor Salparov
- Martin Stoev
- Hristo Tsvetanov
- Eva Yaneva
- Boyan Yordanov
- Ivan Zarev
- Antonina Zetova
- Andrey Zhekov
- Dimitar Zlatanov
Football
- Georgi Asparuhov
- Krassimir Balakov
- Dimitar Berbatov
- Hristo Bonev
- Dinko Dermendzhiev
- Petar Houbchev
- Trifon Ivanov
- Ivan Kolev
- Emil Kostadinov
- Nikola Kotkov
- Yordan Letchkov
- Stanislav Manolev
- Borislav Mikhailov
- Dimitar Penev
- Luboslav Penev
- Martin Petrov
- Stiliyan Petrov
- Aleksandar Shalamanov
- Nasko Sirakov
- Hristo Stoichkov
- Darin Todorov
- Emil Urumov
- Dimitar Yakimov
- Zlatko Yankov
- Petar Zhekov
- Andrey Zhelyazkov
Tennis
- Grigor Dimitrov
- Katerina Maleeva
- Magdalena Maleeva
- Manuela Maleeva
- Tsvetana Pironkova
Other sports
- Blagoy Blagoev, silver medalist in Olympic Games and all-time senior world record holder in snatch
- Nikolay Bukhalov, two Olympic and five world titles in canoeing
- Albena Denkova, World Figure Skating Champion in ice dancing
- Georgi Georgiev, two world titles in Sambo
- Maria Gigova, three rhythmic gymnastics world titles, Guinness World Records
- Mariya Grozdeva, sport shooter
- Ivan Ivanov, Olympic weightlifter
- Tanyu Kiryakov
- Dan Kolov, Bulgarian wrestler
- Kaloyan Mahlyanov, sumo wrestler
- Maria Petrova, three rhythmic gymnastics world titles, Guinness World Records
- Hristo Prodanov, mountaineer
- Evgeniya Radanova
- Neshka Robeva
- Alexander Rusev, Bulgarian wrestler, rower and powerlifter
- Valentin Yordanov, two Olympic, seven world and seven European titles in wrestling
- Yordan Yovchev, world champion and six-time Olympic gymnast
Theology
- Antim I
- Evtimiy of Tarnovo
- Vladislav the Grammarian
- Peter Deunov, founder of the Universal White Brotherhood
Cuisine
- Silvena Rowe
- Ivan Zvezdev
Criminals
- Borislav Georgiev
- Emil Kyulev
- Georgi Iliev
- Georgi Stoev
- Iliya Pavlov
- Konstantin "Samokovetsa" Dimitrov
- Vasil Iliev
Gallery