Famous Bulgarians: History, Science, Arts and Sport

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

Häufig gestellte Fragen

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.

Berühmte Bulgaren

Geschichte

Simeon I the Great

Bulgarian ruler during the First Bulgarian Empire’s cultural flourishing

893–927 Years as ruler of Bulgaria
Weiterlesen
Vasil Levski

Bulgarian revolutionary who organised the Internal Revolutionary Organisation

1837–1873 His lifespan
Weiterlesen
Hristo Botev

Bulgarian poet, journalist and revolutionary

1848–1876 Years of Botev’s life
Weiterlesen
Paisius of Hilendar

Bulgarian Orthodox clergyman and author of a 1762 history of Bulgaria

1762 Completed Istoriya Slavyanobolgarskaya
Weiterlesen
Alexander of Battenberg

Bulgaria’s first prince, from 1879 to 1886

1879–1886 Years as Prince of Bulgaria
Weiterlesen
Stefan Stambolov

Bulgarian revolutionary, regent and prime minister

1887–1894 Served as Bulgaria’s prime minister
Weiterlesen
Gotse Delchev

Macedonian Bulgarian revolutionary and IMRO leader

1872–1903 Lived
Weiterlesen
Boris III

Tsar of Bulgaria from 1918 until his death in 1943

1918–1943 Years as Tsar of Bulgaria
Weiterlesen
Baba Vanga

Bulgarian mystic and healer known for alleged predictions

1911–1996 Her lifetime
Weiterlesen

Politik

Todor Zhivkov

Bulgaria’s communist leader from 1956 to 1989

1954–1989 First Secretary, later General Secretary, of the BCP
Weiterlesen
Ivan Kostov

Bulgaria’s prime minister from 1997 to 2001

1949 Year of birth
Weiterlesen
Simeon II

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

1937 Year of birth
Weiterlesen
Slavi Trifonov

Bulgarian TV host, musician and politician

1993 Year Ku-Ku Band was established
Weiterlesen
Boyko Borisov

Bulgarian politician and three-time prime minister

3 Terms as prime minister
Weiterlesen
Rosen Plevneliev

Bulgaria’s president from 2012 to 2017

2012–2017 Years as president of Bulgaria
Weiterlesen
Georgi Parvanov

Bulgaria’s president from 2002 to 2012

2002–2012 Served as president of Bulgaria
Weiterlesen
Volen Siderov

Bulgarian politician and leader of the Attack party

2005 Founded and began leading Attack
Weiterlesen

Wissenschaft und Entdeckungen

Cyril and Methodius

Byzantine missionaries known as the Apostles to the Slavs

863 Translation work in Old Church Slavonic began
Weiterlesen
John Atanasoff

Physicist credited with inventing the first electronic digital computer

1903–1995 Atanasoff’s lifespan
Weiterlesen
Georgi Ivanov

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

1979 Year of his spaceflight
Weiterlesen
Aleksandr Aleksandrov

Bulgarian cosmonaut who flew to Mir in 1988

1951 Year of birth
Weiterlesen

Kunst, Literatur und Unterhaltung

Ivan Vazov

Bulgarian poet, novelist and playwright

1850–1921 Years of life
Weiterlesen
Elias Canetti

Bulgarian-born writer and 1981 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate

1905–1994 Years of life
Weiterlesen
Christo

Bulgarian-born artist known for large-scale environmental installations

1935–2020 Christo’s life
Weiterlesen
Astor

Bulgarian illusionist of Armenian origin

1943 Born in Shumen
Weiterlesen
Sylvie Vartan

Bulgarian-born French singer and actress

1944 Born in Iskrets, Bulgaria
Weiterlesen
Valya Balkanska

Bulgarian folk singer whose recording travelled on the Voyager spacecraft

300+ Songs in her repertoire
Weiterlesen
Raina Kabaivanska

Bulgarian soprano and teacher associated with Verdi and Puccini

1961 La Scala debut
Weiterlesen
Ghena Dimitrova

Bulgarian soprano known for her performances as Turandot

1941–2005 Years of life
Weiterlesen
Theodosii Spassov

Bulgarian kaval player blending folklore and jazz

1961 Year of birth
Weiterlesen
Ivo Papazov

Bulgarian clarinettist and wedding-band musician

1952 Born in Kardzhali
Weiterlesen
Vladimir Dimitrov

Bulgarian painter known as the Master, or Maystora

1882–1960 Years of life
Weiterlesen
Zlatyu Boyadzhiev

Bulgarian painter known for portraits, landscapes and village scenes

1903 Born in Brezovo
Weiterlesen
Lili Ivanova

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

1961–present Years active
Weiterlesen
Emil Dimitrov

Bulgarian singer, musician and composer

400 Songs in his repertoire
Weiterlesen
Veneta Raikova

Bulgarian journalist, writer and television presenter

1992 Won the Mini Miss Bulgaria contest
Weiterlesen

Sport

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
Weiterlesen
1994 World Cup team

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

4th Final position at the 1994 World Cup
Weiterlesen
Georgi Asparuhov

Bulgarian striker who represented his country at three World Cups

49 Appearances for Bulgaria
Weiterlesen
Yordan Lechkov

Bulgarian footballer who scored against Germany at the 1994 World Cup

45 Appearances for Bulgaria
Weiterlesen
Emil Kostadinov

Bulgarian forward who scored the decisive goal against France in 1993

70 Bulgaria appearances
Weiterlesen
Krasimir Balakov

Bulgarian midfielder in the 1994 World Cup team

92 Appearances for Bulgaria
Weiterlesen
Trifon Ivanov

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

76 Appearances for Bulgaria
Weiterlesen
Dimitar Berbatov

Bulgarian striker and national team record goalscorer

48 Goals for Bulgaria, a shared national record
Weiterlesen
Veselin Topalov

Bulgarian grandmaster and FIDE World Champion in 2005

2005–06 FIDE World Champion
Weiterlesen
Antoaneta Stefanova

Bulgarian chess grandmaster and Women’s World Champion

2004–2006 Women’s World Champion
Weiterlesen
Stefka Kostadinova

Bulgarian high jumper and 1996 Olympic champion

2,09 m World record set in Rome in 1987
Weiterlesen
Ekaterina Dafovska

Bulgaria’s 1998 Olympic biathlon gold medallist

1998 Won Olympic gold in the 15 km Individual
Weiterlesen
Ivet Lalova-Collio

Bulgarian sprinter and European champion

5 Olympic Games editions
Weiterlesen
Yordan Yovchev

Bulgarian gymnast who competed at six consecutive Olympic Games

6 Consecutive Olympic Games competed in
Weiterlesen
Magdalena Maleeva

Bulgarian tennis player who reached world No. 4

No. 4 Career-high singles ranking
Weiterlesen
Sesil Karatantcheva

Bulgarian tennis player and 2005 French Open quarter-finalist

No. 35 Career-high singles ranking
Weiterlesen
Naim Süleymanoğlu

Bulgarian-born weightlifter who won three Olympic gold medals

3 Olympic gold medals
Weiterlesen
Maria Grozdeva

Bulgarian shooter with five Olympic medals

5 Olympic medals
Weiterlesen
Borislav Mihaylov

Bulgaria goalkeeper and football union president

102 Appearances for Bulgaria
Weiterlesen
Dimitar Penev

Bulgarian defender and coach of the 1994 World Cup team

90 Appearances for Bulgaria
Weiterlesen
Grigor Dimitrov

Bulgarian tennis player and 2017 ATP Finals champion

No. 3 Highest singles ranking
Weiterlesen
Stiliyan Petrov

Bulgarian midfielder and national team record-holder

105 Appearances for Bulgaria, the national record
Weiterlesen
Kubrat Pulev

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

2008 Represented Bulgaria at the Olympic Games
Weiterlesen
Neshka Robeva

Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast and coach

294 World, European and Olympic medals won by her gymnasts
Weiterlesen
Iliana Raeva

Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast and federation president

1980 European all-around champion
Weiterlesen
Nasko Sirakov

Bulgarian striker and major shareholder of Levski Sofia

78 Appearances for Bulgaria
Weiterlesen