Most Famous People from Bulgaria

100 Bulgarians in view out of 551

All 152,953
Bulgaria 547
Nina Dobrev
Nina Dobrev Bulgarian Actor Born 1989
#2,138
Georgi Dimitrov
Georgi Dimitrov Bulgarian Politician 1882 – 1949
#5,432
Todor Zhivkov
Todor Zhivkov Bulgarian Politician 1911 – 1998
#5,466
Hristo Stoichkov
Hristo Stoichkov Bulgarian Football Born 1966
#6,801
Ferdinand I of Bulgaria
Ferdinand I of Bulgaria Bulgarian Monarch 1861 – 1948
#7,415
Ivan Vazov
Ivan Vazov Bulgarian Poet 1850 – 1921
#8,537
Hristo Botev
Hristo Botev Bulgarian Poet 1848 – 1876
#9,119
Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov Bulgarian Football Born 1981
#14,136
Aleksandar Stamboliyski
Aleksandar Stamboliyski Bulgarian Politician 1879 – 1923
#17,608
Boyko Borisov
Boyko Borisov Bulgarian Politician Born 1959
#17,629
Stiliyan Petrov
Stiliyan Petrov Bulgarian Football Born 1979
#19,363
SS
Stefan Stambolov Bulgarian Politician 1854 – 1895
#21,287
Jules Pascin
Jules Pascin Bulgarian Painter 1885 – 1930
#23,845
Simeon I of Bulgaria
Simeon I of Bulgaria Bulgarian Sovereign 864 – 927
#23,887
Zhelyu Zhelev
Zhelyu Zhelev Bulgarian Politician 1935 – 2015
#24,974
Nicolai Ghiaurov
Nicolai Ghiaurov Bulgarian Singer 1929 – 2004
#25,258
Valeri Bojinov
Valeri Bojinov Bulgarian Football Born 1986
#25,610
Yordan Yovkov
Yordan Yovkov Bulgarian Writer 1880 – 1937
#27,615
Elin Pelin
Elin Pelin Bulgarian Writer 1877 – 1949
#29,549
Samuel of Bulgaria
Samuel of Bulgaria Bulgarian Sovereign 958 – 1014
#29,752
Georgi Parvanov
Georgi Parvanov Bulgarian Politician Born 1957
#29,833
Bogdan Filov
Bogdan Filov Bulgarian Anthropologist 1883 – 1945
#31,602
Clement of Ohrid
Clement of Ohrid Bulgarian Disciples 840 – 916
#32,036
Pencho Slaveykov
Pencho Slaveykov Bulgarian Poet 1866 – 1912
#33,238
Gotse Delchev
Gotse Delchev Bulgarian Revolutionary 1872 – 1903
#34,068
Aleko Konstantinov
Aleko Konstantinov Bulgarian Writer 1863 – 1897
#34,669
Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov
Omraam Mikhaël Aïvanhov Bulgarian Philosopher 1900 – 1986
#35,550
John of Rila
John of Rila Bulgarian Monk 876 – 946
#36,911
Peyo Yavorov
Peyo Yavorov Bulgarian Poet 1878 – 1914
#37,564
Valko Chervenkov
Valko Chervenkov Bulgarian Politician 1900 – 1980
#37,784
Vasil Kolarov
Vasil Kolarov Bulgarian Politician 1877 – 1950
#39,041
Raina Kabaivanska
Raina Kabaivanska Bulgarian Singer Born 1934
#40,930
Ghena Dimitrova
Ghena Dimitrova Bulgarian Singer 1941 – 2005
#42,693
Kimon Georgiev
Kimon Georgiev Bulgarian Militar 1882 – 1969
#43,970
Yordan Radichkov
Yordan Radichkov Bulgarian Writer 1929 – 2004
#44,509
Lyuben Karavelov
Lyuben Karavelov Bulgarian Poet 1834 – 1879
#44,937
Geo Milev
Geo Milev Bulgarian Writer 1895 – 1925
#45,575
Lili Ivanova
Lili Ivanova Bulgarian Singer Born 1939
#45,933
Grigor Dimitrov
Grigor Dimitrov Bulgarian Player Born 1991
#45,985
Krste Misirkov
Krste Misirkov Bulgarian Historian 1874 – 1926
#46,417
BD
Blaga Dimitrova Bulgarian Poet 1922 – 2003
#48,788
Martin Petrov
Martin Petrov Bulgarian Football Born 1979
#49,326
Peter Deunov
Peter Deunov Bulgarian Philosopher 1864 – 1944
#52,633
Paisius of Hilendar
Paisius of Hilendar Bulgarian Presbyter 1722 – 1773
#54,381
Petar Mladenov
Petar Mladenov Bulgarian Politician 1936 – 2000
#55,034
Aleksandar Tonev
Aleksandar Tonev Bulgarian Football Born 1990
#55,676
Aleksandar Tsankov
Aleksandar Tsankov Bulgarian Fascist 1879 – 1959
#58,200
Spas Delev
Spas Delev Bulgarian Football Born 1989
#59,970
Yane Sandanski
Yane Sandanski Bulgarian Politician 1872 – 1915
#61,832
Georgi Milanov (footballer)
Georgi Milanov (footballer) Bulgarian Football Born 1992
#62,470
Ljuba Welitsch
Ljuba Welitsch Bulgarian Singer 1913 – 1996
#64,096
Peter I of Bulgaria
Peter I of Bulgaria Bulgarian Monarch 895 – 970
#66,060
Lyudmila Zhivkova
Lyudmila Zhivkova Bulgarian Communist 1942 – 1981
#66,350
Aleksandar Malinov
Aleksandar Malinov Bulgarian Politician 1867 – 1938
#66,771
GG
Georgi Gospodinov Bulgarian Screenwriter Born 1968
#67,024
DP
Dimitar Peshev Bulgarian Politician 1894 – 1973
#69,541
Ahmed Dogan
Ahmed Dogan Bulgarian Politician Born 1954
#72,251
Dora Gabe
Dora Gabe Bulgarian Poet 1888 – 1983
#73,962
Andrey Lyapchev
Andrey Lyapchev Bulgarian Minister 1866 – 1933
#79,913
Rosen Plevneliev
Rosen Plevneliev Bulgarian Politician Born 1964
#80,715
Vladislav Stoyanov
Vladislav Stoyanov Bulgarian Football Born 1987
#82,802
Đoko Rosić
Đoko Rosić Bulgarian Actor 1932 – 2014
#83,739
Zdravko Lazarov
Zdravko Lazarov Bulgarian Football Born 1976
#85,575
IM
Iliyan Mitsanski Bulgarian Football Born 1985
#87,932
Anton Yugov
Anton Yugov Bulgarian Politician 1904 – 1991
#89,202
Dimitar Blagoev
Dimitar Blagoev Bulgarian Politician 1856 – 1924
#89,502
Petar Zhekov
Petar Zhekov Bulgarian Football Born 1944
#89,514
Dimitar Penev
Dimitar Penev Bulgarian Football Born 1945
#90,644
Plamen Oresharski
Plamen Oresharski Bulgarian Politician Born 1960
#92,614
Ivan Krastev
Ivan Krastev Bulgarian Political Scientist Born 1965
#94,329
Dame Gruev
Dame Gruev Bulgarian Politician 1871 – 1906
#97,190
Zahari Stoyanov
Zahari Stoyanov Bulgarian Writer 1850 – 1889
#99,401
Petar Hubchev
Petar Hubchev Bulgarian Football Born 1964
#99,637
Ivaylo Chochev
Ivaylo Chochev Bulgarian Football Born 1993
#105,990
TA
Todor Aleksandrov Bulgarian Freedom Fighter 1881 – 1924
#106,328
Nicola Ghiuselev
Nicola Ghiuselev Bulgarian Singer 1936 – 2014
#106,840
ZZ
Zahari Zograf Bulgarian Painter 1810 – 1853
#107,400
VI
Vladimir I. Georgiev Bulgarian Linguist 1908 – 1986
#110,858
Valentin Iliev
Valentin Iliev Bulgarian Football Born 1980
#111,092
IK
Iliyan Kiryakov Bulgarian Football Born 1967
#111,116
Georgi Bliznashki
Georgi Bliznashki Bulgarian Politician Born 1956
#113,627
Ivaylo Petkov
Ivaylo Petkov Bulgarian Football Born 1976
#113,663
Stanko Todorov
Stanko Todorov Bulgarian Politician 1920 – 1996
#116,058
KM
Khristo Markov Bulgarian Athletic Born 1965
#118,949
Plamen Markov
Plamen Markov Bulgarian Football Born 1957
#119,996
Kiril Georgiev
Kiril Georgiev Bulgarian Chess Born 1965
#121,207
Maxim of Bulgaria
Maxim of Bulgaria Bulgarian Priest 1914 – 2012
#122,650
IM
Ivan Milev Bulgarian Painter 1897 – 1927
#125,196
KF
Kolyu Ficheto Bulgarian Architect 1800 – 1881
#125,376
Tsvetan Genkov
Tsvetan Genkov Bulgarian Football Born 1984
#125,570
CO
Constantine of Kostenets Bulgarian Author 1380 – 1431
#127,545
Vladimir Dimitrov
Vladimir Dimitrov Bulgarian Painter 1882 – 1960
#127,855
Marian Hristov
Marian Hristov Bulgarian Football Born 1973
#130,218
Rangel Valchanov
Rangel Valchanov Bulgarian Film 1928 – 2013
#130,240
GK
Georgi Kyoseivanov Bulgarian Politician 1884 – 1960
#130,943
Eugene Bossilkov
Eugene Bossilkov Bulgarian Priest 1900 – 1952
#131,067
Theodosii Spassov
Theodosii Spassov Bulgarian Composer Born 1961
#131,388
Kiril Despodov
Kiril Despodov Bulgarian Football Born 1996
#132,305
Petar Zanev
Petar Zanev Bulgarian Football Born 1985
#133,636
Vladimir of Bulgaria
Vladimir of Bulgaria Bulgarian Sovereign Born 850
#134,404

By the numbers

Inside Bulgaria

547 notable people in this slice of the dataset.

Through the Decades

One face per decade — the most globally famous figure born in Bulgaria during each.

Notable Births by Decade

Notable births in Bulgaria peaked in the 1960s with 60 people.

What Bulgaria Is Known For

Click any row to drill into that filter.

Sports is Bulgaria's biggest group — 40% of all notables (217).

Bulgaria over-indexes on sports — 1.9× the global rate.

Bulgaria under-produces science — only 0.5× the global rate.

  1. Sports217
  2. Politics & Law110
  3. Writing72
  4. Film & TV30
  5. Other24
  6. Art & Design24
  7. Science20
  8. Music18
  1. Sports2171.9×
  1. Science200.5×
  2. Military130.6×
  3. Music180.6×
  4. Religion170.6×
  5. Other240.6×

Profession Mix Over Time

Each band shows a profession family's share of Bulgaria's notable births by decade. Hover the chart for the breakdown at any decade.

175018001850190019502000
  • Sports
  • Politics & Law
  • Writing
  • Film & TV
  • Art & Design
  • Science
  • Other

Top Cities

Biggest birthplaces in this slice — click any to explore.