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 (II) Delyan of Bulgaria Constantin Bodin (Peter (III)) 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 Ted Kotcheff
Actors See also List of Bulgarian actors
Zahari Baharov Maria Bakalova George Baker Nikolay Binev Radina Borshosh 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 (born 1951), 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
Silvia Dimitrova Nina Dobrev Nansi Karaboycheva Yana Marinova Diliana Popova
Dancers
Cyril Atanassoff Asen Gavrilov
Journalists
Oggy Boytchev Vasil Kanchov Nikolay Kolev - Michmana Elena Yoncheva
Television
Todor Kolev Niki Kunchev Milen Tsvetkov Aleksandra Sarchadjieva Slavi Trifonov Ralitsa Vassileva
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 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 See also List of Bulgarian 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 See also List of Bulgarian musicians and singers
100 Kila Alexis Weissenberg Andrea Angela Tosheva Azis Boris Christoff Christina Morfova Desi Slava Elena Nicolai Elitsa Todorova Emil Dimitrov Filipp Kirkorov Gena Dimitrova Georgi Minchev Gery-Nikol Gloria Ivan Yanakov Ivanka Ninova Ivo Papasov Kamen Tchanev Kristian Kostov Kiril Marichkov Lili Ivanova Ljuba Welitsch Ludmilla Diakovska Marius Kurkinski Mira Aroyo Nayden Todorov Neva Krysteva Nicolai Ghiaurov Nikola Giuzelev Petia Poli Genova Raina Kabaivanska Ralitsa Tcholakova Slavi Trifonov Spens Stefan Valdobrev Svetla Protich Sylvie Vartan Theodosii Spassov Triphon Silyanovski Valya Balkanska Vassil Naidenov Vesselina Kasarova Yildiz Ibrahimova Yoan Kukuzel
Visual arts
Architects
Victoria Angelova Milka Bliznakov 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 Ivan Vukadinov 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 Christo Vladimirov Javacheff, along with Jeanne-Claude Peter Lazarov, graphic artist Alex Maleev, cartoonist Toma Tomov, graphic artist
Business
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 Krasimir Premyanov Rumen Radev Vasil Radoslavov Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha Iliana Iotova, the first female president of Bulgaria and the current one since 2026 Aleksandar Stamboliyski Stefan Stambolov Nadejda Stancioff 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 Ilarion Dragostinov Panayot Hitov Todor Kableshkov Stefan Karadzha Lyuben Karavelov Nikola Karev Asen Kojarov Vasil Levski Ivan Mihailov Georgi Obretenov Nikola Obretenov Tonka Obretenova Gjorche Petrov Kosta Shahov 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 Stamen Grigorov, physician Asen Hadjiolov, biologist Anastas Ishirkov, human geographer Christo Ivanov, organic chemist Assen Jordanoff, airplane constructor Rostislaw Kaischew, physical chemist Ludmil Katzarkov, mathematician Georgi Kitov, archaeologist Boicho Kokinov, cognitive scientist Boris Komitov, astronomer Mimoza Konteva, geographer Georgi Lozanov, psychologist Georgi Manev, physicist Stefan Marinov, dissident physicist Marco Mincoff, literary scholar Nikola Mollov, organic chemist 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 Venelin Tsachevsky, economist Evgeny Vatev, physicist, inventor Asen Zlatarov, chemist Vasil Zlatarski, historian Dimitar Kalev, humanities scholar, oncologist, poet
Economists
Stoyan Alexandrov Lyuben Berov Martin Dimitrov Simeon Djankov Kristalina Georgieva 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 (1988) Stefka Kostadinova, world record holder and two world titles in high jump (1987, 1995) Tereza Marinova, triple jumper Khristo Markov, 1988 Olympic triple jump champion Petya Pendareva, sprinter Iva Prandzheva, long jumper and triple jumper
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 Dimitar Shtilianov, boxer Serafim Todorov, boxer, won the Olympic Featherweight Silver medal at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games
Chess
Ivan Cheparinov, chess player Antoaneta Stefanova, Women's World Chess Champion (2004) Silvio Danailov, chess player and manager Veselin Topalov, World Chess Champion (2005)
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 Mihaylov 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 (1980) and all-time senior world record holder in snatch (195.5 kg, competing at 90 kg) Nikolay Bukhalov, two Olympic and five world titles in canoeing Albena Denkova, World Figure Skating Champion in ice dancing (pairs) (2006, 2007) Vasil Etropolski (born 1959), Olympic and world champion sabre fencer Georgi Georgiev, two world titles in Sambo (2003, 2006) Maria Gigova, three rhythmic gymnastics world titles (1969, 1971, 1973), Guinness World Records Mariya Grozdeva, sport shooter Ivan Ivanov, Olympic weightlifter Tanyu Kiryakov, pistol shooter Dan Kolov, wrestler Kaloyan Mahlyanov (Kotooshu), sumo wrestler Maria Petrova, three rhythmic gymnastics world titles (1993, 1994, 1995), Guinness World Records Hristo Prodanov, mountaineer Evgeniya Radanova, speed skater and racing cyclist Neshka Robeva, rhythmic gymnast Alexander Rusev, 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 (Master Beinsa Douno), founder of the Universal White Brotherhood
Cuisine
Vasil Eshcoff Silvena Rowe Kiradjieff brothers Ivan Zvezdev
Criminals
Borislav Georgiev Emil Kyulev Georgi Iliev Georgi Stoev Iliya Pavlov Konstantin "Samokovetsa" Dimitrov Vasil Iliev Delyan Peevski
Gallery
See also Bulgaria Bulgarians Bulgarian language
Notes