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
Συχνές ερωτήσεις
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.
Διάσημοι Βούλγαροι
Ιστορία
Simeon I the Great
Bulgarian ruler during the First Bulgarian Empire’s cultural flourishing
893–927 Years as ruler of Bulgaria
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Vasil Levski
Bulgarian revolutionary who organised the Internal Revolutionary Organisation
1837–1873 His lifespan
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Hristo Botev
Bulgarian poet, journalist and revolutionary
1848–1876 Years of Botev’s life
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Paisius of Hilendar
Bulgarian Orthodox clergyman and author of a 1762 history of Bulgaria
1762 Completed Istoriya Slavyanobolgarskaya
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Alexander of Battenberg
Bulgaria’s first prince, from 1879 to 1886
1879–1886 Years as Prince of Bulgaria
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Stefan Stambolov
Bulgarian revolutionary, regent and prime minister
1887–1894 Served as Bulgaria’s prime minister
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Gotse Delchev
Macedonian Bulgarian revolutionary and IMRO leader
1872–1903 Lived
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Boris III
Tsar of Bulgaria from 1918 until his death in 1943
1918–1943 Years as Tsar of Bulgaria
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Baba Vanga
Bulgarian mystic and healer known for alleged predictions
1911–1996 Her lifetime
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Πολιτική
Todor Zhivkov
Bulgaria’s communist leader from 1956 to 1989
1954–1989 First Secretary, later General Secretary, of the BCP
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Ivan Kostov
Bulgaria’s prime minister from 1997 to 2001
1949 Year of birth
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Simeon II
Bulgaria’s last Tsar and prime minister from 2001 to 2005
1937 Year of birth
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Slavi Trifonov
Bulgarian TV host, musician and politician
1993 Year Ku-Ku Band was established
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Boyko Borisov
Bulgarian politician and three-time prime minister
3 Terms as prime minister
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Rosen Plevneliev
Bulgaria’s president from 2012 to 2017
2012–2017 Years as president of Bulgaria
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Georgi Parvanov
Bulgaria’s president from 2002 to 2012
2002–2012 Served as president of Bulgaria
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Volen Siderov
Bulgarian politician and leader of the Attack party
2005 Founded and began leading Attack
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Επιστήμη και ανακαλύψεις
Cyril and Methodius
Byzantine missionaries known as the Apostles to the Slavs
863 Translation work in Old Church Slavonic began
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
John Atanasoff
Physicist credited with inventing the first electronic digital computer
1903–1995 Atanasoff’s lifespan
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Georgi Ivanov
Bulgaria’s first cosmonaut, who flew on Soyuz 33 in 1979
1979 Year of his spaceflight
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Aleksandr Aleksandrov
Bulgarian cosmonaut who flew to Mir in 1988
1951 Year of birth
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Τέχνες, γράμματα και ψυχαγωγία
Ivan Vazov
Bulgarian poet, novelist and playwright
1850–1921 Years of life
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Elias Canetti
Bulgarian-born writer and 1981 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate
1905–1994 Years of life
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Christo
Bulgarian-born artist known for large-scale environmental installations
1935–2020 Christo’s life
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Astor
Bulgarian illusionist of Armenian origin
1943 Born in Shumen
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Sylvie Vartan
Bulgarian-born French singer and actress
1944 Born in Iskrets, Bulgaria
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Valya Balkanska
Bulgarian folk singer whose recording travelled on the Voyager spacecraft
300+ Songs in her repertoire
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Raina Kabaivanska
Bulgarian soprano and teacher associated with Verdi and Puccini
1961 La Scala debut
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Ghena Dimitrova
Bulgarian soprano known for her performances as Turandot
1941–2005 Years of life
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Theodosii Spassov
Bulgarian kaval player blending folklore and jazz
1961 Year of birth
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Ivo Papazov
Bulgarian clarinettist and wedding-band musician
1952 Born in Kardzhali
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Vladimir Dimitrov
Bulgarian painter known as the Master, or Maystora
1882–1960 Years of life
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Zlatyu Boyadzhiev
Bulgarian painter known for portraits, landscapes and village scenes
1903 Born in Brezovo
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Lili Ivanova
Bulgarian singer known as the “Prima of Bulgarian popular music”
1961–present Years active
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Emil Dimitrov
Bulgarian singer, musician and composer
400 Songs in his repertoire
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Veneta Raikova
Bulgarian journalist, writer and television presenter
1992 Won the Mini Miss Bulgaria contest
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Αθλητισμός
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
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
1994 World Cup team
Semi-finalists and fourth-place finishers at the 1994 World Cup.
4th Final position at the 1994 World Cup
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Georgi Asparuhov
Bulgarian striker who represented his country at three World Cups
49 Appearances for Bulgaria
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Yordan Lechkov
Bulgarian footballer who scored against Germany at the 1994 World Cup
45 Appearances for Bulgaria
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Emil Kostadinov
Bulgarian forward who scored the decisive goal against France in 1993
70 Bulgaria appearances
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Krasimir Balakov
Bulgarian midfielder in the 1994 World Cup team
92 Appearances for Bulgaria
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Trifon Ivanov
Bulgarian centre-back who played at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups
76 Appearances for Bulgaria
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Dimitar Berbatov
Bulgarian striker and national team record goalscorer
48 Goals for Bulgaria, a shared national record
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Veselin Topalov
Bulgarian grandmaster and FIDE World Champion in 2005
2005–06 FIDE World Champion
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Antoaneta Stefanova
Bulgarian chess grandmaster and Women’s World Champion
2004–2006 Women’s World Champion
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Stefka Kostadinova
Bulgarian high jumper and 1996 Olympic champion
2,09 m World record set in Rome in 1987
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Ekaterina Dafovska
Bulgaria’s 1998 Olympic biathlon gold medallist
1998 Won Olympic gold in the 15 km Individual
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Ivet Lalova-Collio
Bulgarian sprinter and European champion
5 Olympic Games editions
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Yordan Yovchev
Bulgarian gymnast who competed at six consecutive Olympic Games
6 Consecutive Olympic Games competed in
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Magdalena Maleeva
Bulgarian tennis player who reached world No. 4
No. 4 Career-high singles ranking
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Sesil Karatantcheva
Bulgarian tennis player and 2005 French Open quarter-finalist
No. 35 Career-high singles ranking
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Naim Süleymanoğlu
Bulgarian-born weightlifter who won three Olympic gold medals
3 Olympic gold medals
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Maria Grozdeva
Bulgarian shooter with five Olympic medals
5 Olympic medals
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Borislav Mihaylov
Bulgaria goalkeeper and football union president
102 Appearances for Bulgaria
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Dimitar Penev
Bulgarian defender and coach of the 1994 World Cup team
90 Appearances for Bulgaria
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Grigor Dimitrov
Bulgarian tennis player and 2017 ATP Finals champion
No. 3 Highest singles ranking
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Stiliyan Petrov
Bulgarian midfielder and national team record-holder
105 Appearances for Bulgaria, the national record
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Kubrat Pulev
Bulgarian boxer and 2024–2025 WBA (Regular) heavyweight champion
2008 Represented Bulgaria at the Olympic Games
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Neshka Robeva
Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast and coach
294 World, European and Olympic medals won by her gymnasts
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Iliana Raeva
Bulgarian rhythmic gymnast and federation president
1980 European all-around champion
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Nasko Sirakov
Bulgarian striker and major shareholder of Levski Sofia
78 Appearances for Bulgaria
Διαβάστε περισσότερα
Πηγές
Τα γεγονότα ελέγχθηκαν 13 Οκτωβρίου 2026. Συντάχθηκε από την InvestBulgaria για γενική ενημέρωση.
