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Famous Bulgarians

From Vasil Levski, the hero of the struggle for liberation, to the first Bulgarian in space and the 1994 World Cup team, these are the people Bulgarians are proudest of, and some who are still debated.

Обновено октомври 2026 · Фактите са проверени 13 октомври 2026

Georgi Ivanov becomes the first Bulgarian in space
19791
Georgi Ivanov becomes the first Bulgarian in space
Hristo Stoichkov wins the Ballon d’Or
19942
Hristo Stoichkov wins the Ballon d’Or
Stefka Kostadinova’s high jump world record, 1987–2024
2,09 m3
Stefka Kostadinova’s high jump world record, 1987–2024

Famous Bulgarians

About these profiles

Each profile gives the key dates and a short, neutral account of the person’s life and work. For living people, the roles described are the latest in the sources listed on each page, so check them before relying on them. The people are grouped below by the area they are best known for.1,2,3

Често задавани въпроси

Who was Vasil Levski in Bulgaria?

Vasil Levski was a Bulgarian revolutionary who organised the Internal Revolutionary Organisation and became a hero of the struggle for liberation. He lived from 1837 to 1873.

Who was the first Bulgarian in space?

Georgi Ivanov was Bulgaria’s first cosmonaut and the first Bulgarian to travel into space, flying on the Soyuz 33 mission in 1979.

What did Bulgaria’s 1994 World Cup team achieve?

Bulgaria’s 1994 World Cup team reached the semi-finals and finished fourth in the tournament, its final position among the competing national sides.

What was Stefka Kostadinova’s high jump world record?

Stefka Kostadinova’s high jump world record was 2.09 m, set in Rome in 1987; it remained the world record until 2024.

What did Hristo Stoichkov win in 1994?

Hristo Stoichkov was a Bulgarian forward who won the Ballon d’Or and World Cup Golden Boot in 1994, receiving both individual honours that year.

Известни българи

История

  • Simeon I the Great

    Bulgarian ruler during the First Bulgarian Empire’s cultural flourishing

    893–927 Years as ruler of Bulgaria

    Прочетете повече

  • Vasil Levski

    Bulgarian revolutionary who organised the Internal Revolutionary Organisation

    1837–1873 His lifespan

    Прочетете повече

  • Hristo Botev

    Bulgarian poet, journalist and revolutionary

    1848–1876 Years of Botev’s life

    Прочетете повече

  • Paisius of Hilendar

    Bulgarian Orthodox clergyman and author of a 1762 history of Bulgaria

    1762 Completed Istoriya Slavyanobolgarskaya

    Прочетете повече

  • Alexander of Battenberg

    Bulgaria’s first prince, from 1879 to 1886

    1879–1886 Years as Prince of Bulgaria

    Прочетете повече

  • Stefan Stambolov

    Bulgarian revolutionary, regent and prime minister

    1887–1894 Served as Bulgaria’s prime minister

    Прочетете повече

  • Gotse Delchev

    Macedonian Bulgarian revolutionary and IMRO leader

    1872–1903 Lived

    Прочетете повече

  • Boris III

    Tsar of Bulgaria from 1918 until his death in 1943

    1918–1943 Years as Tsar of Bulgaria

    Прочетете повече

  • Baba Vanga

    Bulgarian mystic and healer known for alleged predictions

    1911–1996 Her lifetime

    Прочетете повече

Политика

  • Todor Zhivkov

    Bulgaria’s communist leader from 1956 to 1989

    1954–1989 First Secretary, later General Secretary, of the BCP

    Прочетете повече

  • Ivan Kostov

    Bulgaria’s prime minister from 1997 to 2001

    1949 Year of birth

    Прочетете повече

  • Simeon II

    Bulgaria’s last Tsar and prime minister from 2001 to 2005

    1937 Year of birth

    Прочетете повече

  • Slavi Trifonov

    Bulgarian TV host, musician and politician

    1993 Year Ku-Ku Band was established

    Прочетете повече

  • Boyko Borisov

    Bulgarian politician and three-time prime minister

    3 Terms as prime minister

    Прочетете повече

  • Rosen Plevneliev

    Bulgaria’s president from 2012 to 2017

    2012–2017 Years as president of Bulgaria

    Прочетете повече

  • Georgi Parvanov

    Bulgaria’s president from 2002 to 2012

    2002–2012 Served as president of Bulgaria

    Прочетете повече

  • Volen Siderov

    Bulgarian politician and leader of the Attack party

    2005 Founded and began leading Attack

    Прочетете повече

Наука и открития

  • Cyril and Methodius

    Byzantine missionaries known as the Apostles to the Slavs

    863 Translation work in Old Church Slavonic began

    Прочетете повече

  • John Atanasoff

    Physicist credited with inventing the first electronic digital computer

    1903–1995 Atanasoff’s lifespan

    Прочетете повече

  • Georgi Ivanov

    Bulgaria’s first cosmonaut, who flew on Soyuz 33 in 1979

    1979 Year of his spaceflight

    Прочетете повече

  • Aleksandr Aleksandrov

    Bulgarian cosmonaut who flew to Mir in 1988

    1951 Year of birth

    Прочетете повече

Изкуство, литература и развлечения

  • Ivan Vazov

    Bulgarian poet, novelist and playwright

    1850–1921 Years of life

    Прочетете повече

  • Elias Canetti

    Bulgarian-born writer and 1981 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate

    1905–1994 Years of life

    Прочетете повече

  • Christo

    Bulgarian-born artist known for large-scale environmental installations

    1935–2020 Christo’s life

    Прочетете повече

  • Astor

    Bulgarian illusionist of Armenian origin

    1943 Born in Shumen

    Прочетете повече

  • Sylvie Vartan

    Bulgarian-born French singer and actress

    1944 Born in Iskrets, Bulgaria

    Прочетете повече

  • Valya Balkanska

    Bulgarian folk singer whose recording travelled on the Voyager spacecraft

    300+ Songs in her repertoire

    Прочетете повече

  • Raina Kabaivanska

    Bulgarian soprano and teacher associated with Verdi and Puccini

    1961 La Scala debut

    Прочетете повече

  • Ghena Dimitrova

    Bulgarian soprano known for her performances as Turandot

    1941–2005 Years of life

    Прочетете повече

  • Theodosii Spassov

    Bulgarian kaval player blending folklore and jazz

    1961 Year of birth

    Прочетете повече

  • Ivo Papazov

    Bulgarian clarinettist and wedding-band musician

    1952 Born in Kardzhali

    Прочетете повече

  • Vladimir Dimitrov

    Bulgarian painter known as the Master, or Maystora

    1882–1960 Years of life

    Прочетете повече

  • Zlatyu Boyadzhiev

    Bulgarian painter known for portraits, landscapes and village scenes

    1903 Born in Brezovo

    Прочетете повече

  • Lili Ivanova

    Bulgarian singer known as the “Prima of Bulgarian popular music”

    1961–present Years active

    Прочетете повече

  • Emil Dimitrov

    Bulgarian singer, musician and composer

    400 Songs in his repertoire

    Прочетете повече

  • Veneta Raikova

    Bulgarian journalist, writer and television presenter

    1992 Won the Mini Miss Bulgaria contest

    Прочетете повече

Спорт

  • Hristo Stoichkov

    Bulgarian forward who won the 1994 Ballon d’Or and World Cup Golden Boot.

    1994 Ballon d’Or and World Cup Golden Boot

    Прочетете повече

  • 1994 World Cup team

    Semi-finalists and fourth-place finishers at the 1994 World Cup.

    4th Final position at the 1994 World Cup

    Прочетете повече

  • Georgi Asparuhov

    Bulgarian striker who represented his country at three World Cups

    49 Appearances for Bulgaria

    Прочетете повече

  • Yordan Lechkov

    Bulgarian footballer who scored against Germany at the 1994 World Cup

    45 Appearances for Bulgaria

    Прочетете повече

  • Emil Kostadinov

    Bulgarian forward who scored the decisive goal against France in 1993

    70 Bulgaria appearances

    Прочетете повече

  • Krasimir Balakov

    Bulgarian midfielder in the 1994 World Cup team

    92 Appearances for Bulgaria

    Прочетете повече

  • Trifon Ivanov

    Bulgarian centre-back who played at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups

    76 Appearances for Bulgaria

    Прочетете повече

  • Dimitar Berbatov

    Bulgarian striker and national team record goalscorer

    48 Goals for Bulgaria, a shared national record

    Прочетете повече

  • Veselin Topalov

    Bulgarian grandmaster and FIDE World Champion in 2005

    2005–06 FIDE World Champion

    Прочетете повече

  • Antoaneta Stefanova

    Bulgarian chess grandmaster and Women’s World Champion

    2004–2006 Women’s World Champion

    Прочетете повече

  • Stefka Kostadinova

    Bulgarian high jumper and 1996 Olympic champion

    2,09 m World record set in Rome in 1987

    Прочетете повече

  • Ekaterina Dafovska

    Bulgaria’s 1998 Olympic biathlon gold medallist

    1998 Won Olympic gold in the 15 km Individual

    Прочетете повече

  • Ivet Lalova-Collio

    Bulgarian sprinter and European champion

    5 Olympic Games editions

    Прочетете повече

  • Yordan Yovchev

    Bulgarian gymnast who competed at six consecutive Olympic Games

    6 Consecutive Olympic Games competed in

    Прочетете повече

  • Magdalena Maleeva

    Bulgarian tennis player who reached world No. 4

    No. 4 Career-high singles ranking

    Прочетете повече

  • Sesil Karatantcheva

    Bulgarian tennis player and 2005 French Open quarter-finalist

    No. 35 Career-high singles ranking

    Прочетете повече

  • Naim Süleymanoğlu

    Bulgarian-born weightlifter who won three Olympic gold medals

    3 Olympic gold medals

    Прочетете повече

  • Maria Grozdeva

    Bulgarian shooter with five Olympic medals

    5 Olympic medals

    Прочетете повече

  • Borislav Mihaylov

    Bulgaria goalkeeper and football union president

    102 Appearances for Bulgaria

    Прочетете повече

  • Dimitar Penev

    Bulgarian defender and coach of the 1994 World Cup team

    90 Appearances for Bulgaria

    Прочетете повече

  • Grigor Dimitrov

    Bulgarian tennis player and 2017 ATP Finals champion

    No. 3 Highest singles ranking

    Прочетете повече

  • Stiliyan Petrov

    Bulgarian midfielder and national team record-holder

    105 Appearances for Bulgaria, the national record

    Прочетете повече

  • Kubrat Pulev

    Bulgarian boxer and 2024–2025 WBA (Regular) heavyweight champion

    2008 Represented Bulgaria at the Olympic Games

    Прочетете повече

  • Neshka Robeva

    Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast and coach

    294 World, European and Olympic medals won by her gymnasts

    Прочетете повече

  • Iliana Raeva

    Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast and federation president

    1980 European all-around champion

    Прочетете повече

  • Nasko Sirakov

    Bulgarian striker and major shareholder of Levski Sofia

    78 Appearances for Bulgaria

    Прочетете повече

Източници

  1. Wikipedia: Georgi Ivanov (cosmonaut)
  2. Wikipedia: Hristo Stoichkov
  3. Wikipedia: Stefka Kostadinova

Фактите са проверени 13 октомври 2026. Изготвено от InvestBulgaria с общоинформационна цел.

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