Bulgaria Naming Customs: Difference between revisions
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==Given Names== | ==Given Names== | ||
*Traditionally, children were often named after an older relative, so as to keep that relative's name in the family. This practice is not binding today. | *Traditionally, children were often named after '''an older relative''', so as to keep that relative's name in the family. This practice is not binding today. | ||
* | *Traditions to name a child after the parents' '''best man or maid of honor or the saint on whose name day''' the child is born also exist. | ||
*Traditionally, the Bulgarian given names are either of Slavic origin or from Greek, Latin or Hebrew when reflecting Christian faith (e.g. Petar, Maria, Ivan, Teodora, Georgi, Nikolay, Mihail, Paraskeva, Dimitar). | *Traditionally, the Bulgarian given names are either of '''Slavic origin or from Greek, Latin or Hebrew when reflecting Christian faith''' (e.g. Petar, Maria, Ivan, Teodora, Georgi, Nikolay, Mihail, Paraskeva, Dimitar). | ||
*The Slavic names may describe the appearance or character of the person, may constitute a wish or even stem from pre-Christian conjuring rituals and meant not to attract the evil spirits.<ref>"Bulgarian name", in Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_name, accessed 2 March 2021.</ref> | *The Slavic names may '''describe the appearance or character of the person, may constitute a wish or even stem from pre-Christian conjuring rituals and meant not to attract the evil spirits'''.<ref>"Bulgarian name", in Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_name, accessed 2 March 2021.</ref> | ||
*In addition, some Bulgarian names may be of '''Thracian''' (e.g. Neno, Dako, Boto, Geto) or '''Bulgar''' (Boris, Boyan, Biser) origin. | |||
*Since the Bulgarian National Revival and the Liberation of Bulgaria in 1878, names of '''successful medieval Bulgarian rulers''', like Asen, Asparuh, Ivaylo, Samuil, Simeon or Krum, have also gained a lot of popularity. | |||
*'''Masculine given names''' can end in a variety of letters, such as "l", "r", "n", "o", "i", etc. whereas '''feminine names''' more commonly end in "a" and occasionally "i". | |||
==For Further Reading== | ==For Further Reading== | ||
Revision as of 14:26, 2 March 2021
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Understanding customs used in surnames and given names can help you identify your ancestors in records. Learn to recognize name variations and see clues in names. |
Online Tools[edit | edit source]
Surnames[edit | edit source]
- Bulgarian naming traditionally consists of three names:
- the first name (the given name)
- the middle name (traditionally the father's name)
- the last name (surname/family name)
- In the early 1800s, the majority of Bulgarians were known by only their first names, occasionally accompanied by an occupation as an additional identifier.
- Before 1880, family names/surnames began to come about, typically based on the paternal grandfather's name (a practice not common today).[1]
- Many surnames are the adjective form of the masculine given name, formed by adding -ov/-ev for males, or -ova/-eva for females.
Given Names[edit | edit source]
- Traditionally, children were often named after an older relative, so as to keep that relative's name in the family. This practice is not binding today.
- Traditions to name a child after the parents' best man or maid of honor or the saint on whose name day the child is born also exist.
- Traditionally, the Bulgarian given names are either of Slavic origin or from Greek, Latin or Hebrew when reflecting Christian faith (e.g. Petar, Maria, Ivan, Teodora, Georgi, Nikolay, Mihail, Paraskeva, Dimitar).
- The Slavic names may describe the appearance or character of the person, may constitute a wish or even stem from pre-Christian conjuring rituals and meant not to attract the evil spirits.[2]
- In addition, some Bulgarian names may be of Thracian (e.g. Neno, Dako, Boto, Geto) or Bulgar (Boris, Boyan, Biser) origin.
- Since the Bulgarian National Revival and the Liberation of Bulgaria in 1878, names of successful medieval Bulgarian rulers, like Asen, Asparuh, Ivaylo, Samuil, Simeon or Krum, have also gained a lot of popularity.
- Masculine given names can end in a variety of letters, such as "l", "r", "n", "o", "i", etc. whereas feminine names more commonly end in "a" and occasionally "i".
For Further Reading[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Bulgarian Naming Patterns, http://www.bulgarica.com/2012/03/12/%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B8/bulgarian-naming-patterns/, accessed 2 March 2021.
- ↑ "Bulgarian name", in Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_name, accessed 2 March 2021.