Famous Bulgarian People

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 1 
Dimitar Berbatov
(The Leading Goal-Scorer in Bulgarian Football History)
Dimitar Berbatov
19
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 30, 1981
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Blagoevgrad

Born to a footballer father and a handball player mother, Bulgarian former footballer Dimitar Berbatov was no stranger to sports as a child. He made history as a striker and became Bulgaria’s leading goal-scorer of all time. He has also had a successful career with Manchester United, winning 2 Premier Leagues with them.

 2 
Hristo Stoichkov
(One of the Greatest Bulgarian Football Players of All Time)
Hristo Stoichkov
23
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 8, 1966
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Plovdiv
Bulgarian footballer/coach Hristo Stoichkov’s temper and ugly fights with players have earned him nicknames such as The Raging Bull and The Dagger. The Ballon d'Or-winning player started his career at 11 with a local club. He then graduated to CSKA Sofia and Barcelona and was named to FIFA 100, too.
 3 
Grigor Dimitrov
(Bulgarian Former World Number 3 Tennis Player)
Grigor Dimitrov
10
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 16, 1991
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Haskovo

Bulgarian tennis star Grigor Dimitrov had had a career-high ranking of number 3 in singles. The most successful player in Bulgarian tennis history, he has also been in the news for his relationship with Maria Sharapova. Known for his acrobatics and athleticism, he was initially named Baby Federer.

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 4 
Maria Bakalova
(Academy Award-Nominated Bulgarian Actor)
Maria Bakalova
18
Birthdate: June 4, 1996
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Burgas
Height: 5'5" (165 cm)
 5 
Kubrat Pulev
(Bulgarian Professional Boxer)
Kubrat Pulev
10
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 4, 1981
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Sofia

Bulgarian professional boxer Kubrat Pulev has so-far won several titles in super-heavyweight division. These include at the Men’s 2008 European Amateur Boxing Championships and at the Strandzha Cup in 2005, 2006 and 2008. He was one of the two boxers who represented Bulgaria at the 2008 Olympics. Pulev has challenged for the unified heavyweight title in 2014 and in 2020.

 6 
Miro
(The First and the Only Bulgarian Wrestler to Compete in the WWE)
Miro
12
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: December 25, 1984
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Plovdiv

Bulgarian wrestler Miroslav Barnyashev, better known as Miro and Rusev, has had a successful career in the US. He is the only Bulgarian to have represented the WWE. He currently represents AEW and is a former United States and TNT champion. Before stepping into wrestling, he also competed in rowing, sambo, and powerlifting.

 7 
Aurelian
(Emperor)
Aurelian
9
Birthdate: September 9, 0214
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Sofia
Died: September 25, 0275

Roman emperor Aurelian ruled from 270 to 275. His military triumphs reunited the Roman Empire and put an end to the Crisis of the Third Century. He built the Aurelian Walls in Rome. Known as the Restitutor Orbis, he defeated the barbarian armies of the Goths and the Alamanni.

 8 
Veselin Topalov
(Bulgarian Chess Grandmaster and Former FIDE World Chess Champion)
Veselin Topalov
4
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 15, 1975
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Ruse

Bulgarian chess Grandmaster Veselin Topalov is a former world number 1 and a FIDE World Chess Champion. Starting to play chess at age 8, he became a prodigy soon after. He has been part of 9 Chess Olympiads and also bagged the Chess Oscar in 2005.

 9 
Boris III of Bulgaria
(Former Tsar of the Kingdom of Bulgaria (1918 - 1943))
Boris III of Bulgaria
3
Birthdate: January 30, 1894
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Sofia
Died: August 28, 1943

Boris III became Tsar of the Kingdom of Bulgaria in the wake of Bulgaria's defeat in First World War. He is noted for legitimating the 1923 Bulgarian coup d'état and joining Axis Powers during Second World War. He however refrained from participating in German invasion of Soviet Union and resisted attempts of the Germans in deporting Bulgarian Jews during Holocaust.

 10 
Stanislav Ianevski
(Bulgarian Actor)
Stanislav Ianevski
5
Birthdate: May 16, 1985
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Sofia
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
 11 
Miro
(Bulgarian-American Professional Wrestler)
Miro
4
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: December 25, 1985
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Plovdiv

Bulgarian wrestler Miroslav Barnyashev, better known as Miro and Rusev, has had a successful career in the US. He is the only Bulgarian to have represented the WWE. He currently represents AEW and is a former United States and TNT champion. Before stepping into wrestling, he also competed in rowing, sambo, and powerlifting.

 12 
Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
(48th Prime Minister of Bulgaria)
Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
10
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: June 16, 1937
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Sofia

The last king of Bulgaria, Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, has also been the country’s prime minister. He had taken over as the king at 6, after his father’s mysterious death. He married a Spanish noble lady while in exile in Madrid and returned to Bulgaria 50 years after the abolition of monarchy.

 13 
Decius
(Emperor)
Decius
1
Birthdate: 0201 AD
Birthplace: Martinci
Died: May 31, 0251
 14 
Georgi Markov
(Bulgarian Dissident Writer Best Known for His Work 'The Truth that Killed')
Georgi Markov
2
Birthdate: March 1, 1929
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Sofia
Died: September 11, 1978

Georgi Markov was a Bulgarian writer, novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. After relocating to London due to political reasons, Markov worked as a journalist and broadcaster for the BBC World Service, Radio Free Europe, and Deutsche Welle. Georgi Markov was assassinated in 1978 and was posthumously honored with the Order of Stara Planina in 2000.

 15 
Sylvie Vartan
(Armenian-Bulgarian-French Actress and Singer)
Sylvie Vartan
8
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: August 15, 1944
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Iskrets

Sylvie Vartan is an Armenian-Bulgarian-French actress and singer. Best known for her work as a yé-yé artist, Vartan achieved popularity in the 1960s and 1970s, when her shows attracted full houses at the Palais des congrès de Paris and the Olympia. Sylvie Vartan's shows often featured enthralling show-dance choreography. She has also appeared in films like Malpertuis and The Missionaries.

 16 
Tsvetana Pironkova
(First Tennis Player of Bulgaria Who Reached Semi-Final of a Grand Slam in Singles)
Tsvetana Pironkova
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: September 13, 1987
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Plovdiv

Tsvetana Pironkova became the first Bulgarian tennis player to reach semi-final of a Grand Slam in singles after defeating five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams at 2010 Wimbledon Championships. Following this Pironkova attained her highest singles ranking of No. 31 in September that year. She bagged a title in Sydney and in 2020 won the Bulgarian Sportsperson of the Year Award.

 17 
Philipp Kirkorov
(Singer)
Philipp Kirkorov
1
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: April 30, 1967
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Varna
 18 
Vasil Levski
(Bulgarian Revolutionary & Freedom Fighter Who was Executed by the Ottoman Authorities)
Vasil Levski
1
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: July 18, 1837
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Karlovo
Died: February 18, 1873

Vasil Levski was a Bulgarian revolutionary who is considered a national hero in Bulgaria. Nicknamed the Apostle of Freedom, Vasil Levski strategized a revolutionary movement to free Bulgaria from the Ottoman rule. In a nationwide television poll conducted in 2007, Levski was voted as the greatest Bulgarian of all time.

 19 
Valentin Yordanov
(Bulgarian Freestyle Wrestler and Olympic Gold Medalist)
Valentin Yordanov
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 26, 1960
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Ruse Municipality

One of the most decorated wrestlers in history, Valentin Yordanov has not only won a gold and a bronze at the Olympics but is also a 7-time World and European Champion. He continued to represent Bulgaria even after moving to the US. He also served as the president of the Bulgarian Wrestling Federation.

 20 
Samuil of Bulgaria
(Former Tsar of Bulgaria)
Samuil of Bulgaria
2
Birthdate: 0958 AD
Birthplace: Prilep
Died: October 6, 1014
 21 
Stefka Kostadinova
(Bulgarian Retired Athlete and Former World Record Holder in High Jump)
Stefka Kostadinova
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 25, 1965
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Plovdiv

Stefka Kostadinova is a Bulgarian former athlete whose world record of 2.09 metres in high jump has stood since 1987. One of the most respected athletes from Bulgaria, Kostadinova has won an Olympic gold medal, two gold medals in World Championships, five gold medals in World Indoor Championships, and four gold medals in European Indoor Championships.

 22 
Simeon I of Bulgaria
(Ruled over Bulgaria from 893 to 927)
Simeon I of Bulgaria
3
Birthdate: 0864 AD
Birthplace: Bulgaria
Died: May 27, 0927
 23 
Krum
(Former Ruler of Bulgaria (803 - 814))
Krum
0
Birthdate: 0755 AD
Birthplace: Pannonia
Died: April 13, 0814

Krum was the ruler of Bulgaria from 803 until his demise in 814. An able administrator, Krum helped expand the Bulgarian territory, which doubled in size during his reign. Krum is also remembered for introducing the first known written law code in the history of Bulgaria, which established him as a strict but just ruler.

 24 
Tzvetan Todorov
(Historian, Philosopher, Sociologist Known for His Contributions to Literary, Cultural, and Thought History)
Tzvetan Todorov
0
Birthdate: March 1, 1939
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Sofia
Died: February 7, 2017

Tzvetan Todorov was a Bulgarian-French historian, philosopher, literary critic, and sociologist. He completed his doctorat ès lettres at the University of Paris and had a brilliant academic career. He helped to found the journal Poétique and served as one of its managing editors. He authored many books, including Conquest of America: The Question of the Other. 

 25 
Baba Vanga
(Mystic)
Baba Vanga
21
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: January 31, 1911
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Ustrumca
Died: November 11, 1996
 26 
Maria Popova
(Bulgarian-Born American-Based Writer Best Known for Her Blog 'The Marginalian')
Maria Popova
4
Listed In: Writers
Birthdate: July 28, 1984
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Bulgaria

Maria Popova is a Bulgarian-born writer who focuses on philosophy and culture. Considered an important writer, Popova also contributes to popular publications like Wired UK, The Atlantic, and The New York Times. Over the course of her career, Maria Popova has been featured in various lists including Forbes' 30 under 30

 27 
Julian Kostov
(Bulgarian Actor, Filmmaker and a 10-Time National Swimming Champion)
Julian Kostov
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: August 25, 1989
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Varna

Bulgarian actor, talent-manager, filmmaker and former pro-swimmer Julian Kostov became 10-time National Swimming Champion and received Master of Sport title in Swimming. As an actor Kostov has appeared in different films and series including starring in the film Another Mother's Son. He plays recurring role in Netflix series Shadow and Bone. He founded the production and talent-management company JupiterLights Productions.

 28 
Boris I of Bulgaria
(King)
Boris I of Bulgaria
1
Birthdate: 0825 AD
Birthplace: Pliska
Died: May 2, 0907
 29 
Julia Kristeva
(Bulgarian-French Author and Academic Whose Themes Surrounded on Feminism, Semiotics, and Psychoanalysis)
Julia Kristeva
3
Listed In: Activists
Birthdate: June 24, 1941
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Sliven

Bulgarian-born French author and literary critic Julia Kristeva is also a professor at the University Paris Diderot. Her writings, such as the Female Genius trilogy, are centered around feminism, semiotics, and psychoanalysis. She has also pioneered semanalysis and has been recognized with honors such as Commander of the Legion of Honor.

 30 
Martin Petrov
(Retired Bulgarian Footballer Who Played as a Winger)
Martin Petrov
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: January 15, 1979
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Vratsa

Retired Bulgarian footballer Martin Petrov was known as an attacking midfielder. He has had successful stints with clubs such as CSKA Sofia and Atlético Madrid, winning the Bulgarian Cup with the former and the UEFA Intertoto Cup with the latter. He was named the Bulgarian Footballer of the Year in 2006.

 31 
Hristo Botev
(One of the Heroes of the Bulgarian National Revolution and Poet)
Hristo Botev
7
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: January 6, 1848
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Kalofer
Died: June 1, 1876

Hristo Botev was a Bulgarian poet and revolutionary. Widely regarded as a national hero by Bulgarians, Botev was thought to be ahead of his peers in his aesthetic, philosophical, and political views. An influential and important figure in the history of Bulgaria, Botev has several monuments, schools, football clubs, and stadiums named after him.

 32 
Irina Bokova
(Bulgarian Political Figure and 10th Director-General of UNESCO (2009 - 2017))
Irina Bokova
1
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: July 12, 1952
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Sofia

Irina Bokova is a Bulgarian politician best known for her service as the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs from 13 November 1996 to 13 February 1997. An important member of UNESCO, Bokova has also served as a Director-General of UNESCO from 15 October 2009 to 10 November 2017. Bokova is the recipient of many prestigious awards like the Hilal-i-Pakistan Award.

 33 
Kotoōshū Katsunori
(Bulgarian Sumo Wrestler and One of the Longest Serving 'ōzeki (Champion) in Sumo History)
Kotoōshū Katsunori
2
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 19, 1983
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Veliko Tarnovo

Retired Bulgarian sumo wrestler Kotoōshū Katsunori was initially a Greco-Roman wrestler but switched to sumo after gaining weight. He scripted history as the first sumo wrestler from Europe to bag the Emperor's Cup and had been an ōzeki for 47 consecutive tournaments. He later became a Japanese citizen.

 34 
Kaloyan of Bulgaria
(Emperor of Bulgaria)
Kaloyan of Bulgaria
2
Birthdate: 1172 AD
Birthplace: Bulgaria
Died: October 8, 1207
 35 
Alexander of Battenberg
(Former Prince of Bulgaria (1879 - 1886))
Alexander of Battenberg
2
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: April 5, 1857
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Verona
Died: November 17, 1893

Alexander Joseph or Alexander of Battenberg was a prince of Bulgaria from 29 April 1879 to 7 September 1886. He was forced to abdicate in 1886 by pro-Russian Bulgarian Army officers during a coup d'état. After abdicating, Alexander went on to serve in the Austrian Army as a general.

 36 
Hristo Shopov
(Bulgarian Actor Known for His Roles in Bulgarian and American Films)
Hristo Shopov
2
Birthdate: January 4, 1964
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Sofia
 37 
Jared Homan
(American Basketball Player Who Has Represented the Bulgarian National Basketball Team)
Jared Homan
1
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: March 6, 1983
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Remsen

American basketball player Jared Homan started his career with the Greek club Maroussi and later represented teams such as Bayern Munich and Maccabi Ashdod. He has also won the Croatian League and Croatian Cup with Cibona Zagreb and has represented the Bulgarian national basketball team.

 38 
Belisarius
(Military Commander)
Belisarius
6
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: 0500 AD
Birthplace: Sapareva Banya
Died: February 29, 0565
Byzantine military commander Belisarius, one of the Last of the Romans, is remembered for his loyalty to Emperor Justinian I and for his self-less love for his wife, Antonina, who later cheated on him. Legend has it that he was blinded by Justinian and made to beg on the streets.
 39 
Princess Marie Louise of Bulgaria
(Princess)
Princess Marie Louise of Bulgaria
2
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthdate: January 13, 1933
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Sofia
 40 
Blagoy Ivanov
(Bulgarian MMA Fighter and Sambo Practitioner Currently Signed to UFC)
Blagoy Ivanov
6
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: October 9, 1986
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Sandanski

Bulgarian MMA fighter and sambo artist Blagoy Ivanov, also known as Bagata, has a gold medal in World Sambo Championships. Initially a talented judoka, he rejected an opportunity to represent his country at the Olympics and chose a career in MMA and sambo instead. He currently represents the UFC.

 41 
Clement of Ohrid
(The First Bishop of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Who Inspired Slavs to Follow Christianity)
Clement of Ohrid
1
Listed In: Miscellaneous
Birthplace: Macedonia Greece
Died: July 27, 0916

A pioneering medieval Bulgarian saint, Clement of Ohrid was a student of saints Cyril and Methodius. He inspired a huge number of Slavs to follow Christianity. He was also the Bulgarian Orthodox Church’s first bishop and one of its Seven Apostles. He is remembered as the patron saint of North Macedonia.

 42 
Serafim Todorov
(Bulgarian Amateur Boxer and Olympic Silver Medalist)
Serafim Todorov
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: July 6, 1969
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Peshtera

Bulgarian amateur boxer Serafim Todorov is not just an Olympic silver medalist but also became the last man to beat Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a controversial bout which many thought Mayweather had won. A 3-time World and European champion, he was nicknamed Sarafa, or The Money-Changer.

 43 
Ivet Lalova-Collio
(Bulgarian Athlete Who Specializes in 100m and 200m Sprint Event and European Champion)
Ivet Lalova-Collio
3
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: May 18, 1984
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Sofia

Five-time Olympian Bulgarian athlete Ivet Lalova-Collio is a master of the 100m and 200m sprint. She has been a European Champion and has won gold medals at the European Junior and Indoor Championships. He career almost ended after colliding with a fellow athlete during a warm-up session and breaking her right femur.

 44 
Aleksandar Tonev
(Bulgarian Football Player Who Plays as a Winger)
Aleksandar Tonev
0
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 3, 1990
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Elin Pelin

Bulgarian footballer Aleksandar Tonev started his career with CSKA Sofia and then went on to play for teams such as Aston Villa and Celtic. He has also played for clubs in Italy and Poland. He now represents Botev Plovdiv as a winger and has also played for the Bulgarian national team.

 45 
Ahmed III
(Sultan)
Ahmed III
5
Birthdate: December 30, 1673
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Dobrich
Died: July 1, 1736
 46 
Kubrat
(Ruler of The Onogur-Bulgars)
Kubrat
0
Birthdate: 0606 AD
Birthplace: Bulgaria
Died: 0665 AD
 47 
Valeri Bojinov
(Bulgarian Professional Football Striker)
Valeri Bojinov
4
Listed In: Sportspersons
Birthdate: February 15, 1986
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Gorna Oryahovitsa

Bulgarian professional football-striker Valeri Bojinov made his senior career debut with Lecce and has thus-far has played for seventeen different clubs. He has won Serie B (2006–07) with Juventus; and Serbian SuperLiga (2016–17) and Serbian Cup (2015–16) with Partizan. He currently plays for Septemvri Sofia and also serves as assistant manager to Slavko Matić at the club

 48 
Todor Zhivkov
(Bulgarian Communist Statesman & Former Prime Minister of Bulgaria (1962 - 1971))
Todor Zhivkov
6
Listed In: Leaders
Birthdate: September 7, 1911
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Pravets
Died: August 5, 1998

Todor Zhivkov was a Bulgarian communist statesman best remembered for his service as the Prime Minister of Bulgaria from 19 November 1962 to 7 July 1971. In 1949, Todor Zhivkov served as the mayor of Sofia. From 1954 to 1989, Zhivkov served as the People's Republic of Bulgaria's de facto leader.

 49 
Lili Ivanova
(Singer)
Lili Ivanova
1
Listed In: Singers
Birthdate: April 24, 1939
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Kubrat
Height: 5'1" (155 cm)
 50 
Luis Bacalov
(Argentine Composer)
Luis Bacalov
0
Birthdate: August 30, 1933
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: San Martín

Filip Kutev, a 20th century composer is credited to have established a new Bulgarian choral tradition. Bulgarians are also famed for their artistic abilities, especially in the creation of frescoes, murals and icons. Equally renowned for their architectural abilities, architects such as Victoria Angelova Vinarova and Andrey Damyanov were considered pioneering master-builders of their times. Modern day Bulgarians are proudly taking forward the rich legacy of their forefathers and are making important contributions to the fields of arts, literature, sports, science and technology, politics, and economics. This section provides you information about the life and works of famous Bulgarians.