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Famous People From Bulgaria

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Updated December 6, 2018 22.4k views 1,001 items

List of famous people from Bulgaria, including photos when available. The people below are listed by their popularity, so the most recognizable names are at the top of the list. Some of the people below are celebrities born in Bulgaria, while others are simply notable locals. If you're from Bulgaria you might already know that these prominent figures are also from your hometown, but some of the names below may really surprise you. This list includes people who were born and raised in Bulgaria, as well as those who were born there but moved away at a young age.

The list you're viewing has a variety of people in it, like Stanka Zlateva and Stefan Karadzha.

If you want to answer the questions, "Which famous people are from Bulgaria?" or "Which celebrities were born in Bulgaria?" then this list is a great resource for you.
Nina Dobrev is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Age: 30

Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria

Nikolina Konstantinova Dobreva (born January 9, 1989), known professionally as Nina Dobrev (), is a Canadian actress. Her first acting role was as Mia Jones in the drama series Degrassi: The ...more

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Aleksandr Panayotov Alek... is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Age: 67

Birthplace: Omurtag, Bulgaria

Aleksandr Panayotov Aleksandrov (Bulgarian: Александър Панайотов Александров) (born December 1, 1951) is a retired Bulgarian cosmonaut. He is the second Bulgarian to have flown to space, behind ...more
Christian Rakovsky is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Dec. at 68 (1873-1941)

Birthplace: Gradets, Bulgaria

Christian Rakovsky (Russian: Христиа́н Гео́ргиевич Рако́вский; August 13 [O.S. August 1] 1873 – September 11, 1941) was a Bulgarian socialist revolutionary, a Bolshevik politician and Soviet ...more
Ilia Pavlov is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Dec. at 43 (1960-2003)

Birthplace: Bulgaria

Iliya Pavlov Naydenov (Bulgarian: Илия Павлов Найденов) (August 6, 1960 - March 7, 2003) was a Bulgarian businessman. A banker, financier, philanthropist and mason, he was the leader and founder ...more
Stefan Stambolov is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Dec. at 41 (1854-1895)

Birthplace: Veliko Tarnovo, Severen tsentralen, Bulgaria

Stefan Nikolov Stambolov (Bulgarian: Стефан Николов Стамболов) (31 January 1854 OS– 19 July 1895 OS) was a Bulgarian politician, journalist, revolutionist, and poet who served as Prime Minister ...more
Borislav Georgiev is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Age: 44

Birthplace: Varna, Bulgaria

Borislav Georgiev (Bulgarian: Борислав Георгиев; born 17 July 1974) is a former Bulgarian footballer. In his career he played as a defender and defensive midfielder. Georgiev played for Sachsen ...more
Michael Arlen is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Dec. at 61 (1895-1956)

Birthplace: Southeast Europe, Ruse Province, Severen tsentralen, Ruse, Bulgaria, + more

Michael Arlen (16 November 1895 in Ruse, Bulgaria – 23 June 1956 in New York City), born Dikran Kouyoumdjian (Armenian: Տիգրան Գույումճյան), was a British essayist, short story writer, novelist, ...more
Ivan Tsvetkov is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Ivan Tsvetkov Age: 39

Birthplace: Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria

Ivan Tsvetkov (Bulgarian: Иван Цветков; born 31 August 1979) is a retired Bulgarian footballer who played as a forward. He is also assistant manager and is currently employed as a scout for ...more
Ivo Ivanov is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Ivo Ivanov Age: 33

Birthplace: Kazanlak, Bulgaria

Ivo Krasimirov Ivanov (Bulgarian: Иво Красимиров Иванов; born 30 April 1985 in Pleven) is a Bulgarian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Minyor Pernik.
Yordan Todorov is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Yordan Todorov Age: 37

Birthplace: Montana, Bulgaria

Yordan Todorov may refer to: Yordan Todorov (footballer, born July 1981), Bulgarian footballer for ESV Regensburg Yordan Todorov (footballer, born November 1981), Bulgarian footballer for Kom ...more
Bozhidar Iskrenov is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Age: 56

Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria

Bozidar Georgiev Iskrenov (Bulgarian: Божидар Гeopгиeв Искренов, born 1 August 1962), nicknamed Gibona (Гибона; "The Gibbon") and Gibi (Гиби), is a former Bulgarian footballer who ...more
Todor Zhivkov is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Dec. at 87 (1911-1998)

Birthplace: Pravets, Bulgaria

Todor Khristov Zhivkov (Bulgarian: Тодор Христов Живков; 7 September 1911 – 5 August 1998) was a Bulgarian politician who served as the de facto leader of the People's Republic of Bulgaria (PRB) ...more
Stanislav Ianevski is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Age: 33

Birthplace: Bulgaria, Sofia

Stanislav Ianevski, born Stanislav Yanevski (Bulgarian: Станислав Яневски, [stəniˈsɫaf ˈjanɛfski]; on 16 May 1985), is a Bulgarian actor who is perhaps best known for playing Viktor Krum in the ...more
Desi Slava is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Desi Slava Age: 39

Birthplace: Radnevo, Bulgaria

Desislava Ivanova Doneva (Bulgarian: Десислава Иванова Донева), known by her stage names Desi Slava (Bulgarian: Деси Слава) or DESS, is a Bulgarian singer, songwriter and producer. She was born ...more
Theodore Ushev is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Age: 51

Birthplace: Kyustendil, Bulgaria

Theodore Asenov Ushev (Bulgarian: Теодор Асенов Ушев, born February 4, 1968) is a Bulgarian animator, graphic designer, illustrator and multimedia artist in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Mario Grigorov is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria

Birthplace: Bulgaria

Mario Grigorov is a musician, pianist, and film score composer.
Fritz Zwicky is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Dec. at 76 (1898-1974)

Birthplace: Varna, Bulgaria

Fritz Zwicky (; German: [ˈtsvɪki]; February 14, 1898 – February 8, 1974) was a Swiss astronomer. He worked most of his life at the California Institute of Technology in the United States of ...more
Michael Bar-Zohar is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Age: 81

Birthplace: Southeast Europe, Sofia, Bulgaria

Michael Bar-Zohar (Hebrew: מיכאל בר-זהר‎, born 30 January 1938) is an Israeli historian, novelist and politician. He was a member of the Knesset on behalf of the Alignment and Labor Party in the ...more
Manuela Maleeva is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Age: 52

Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria

Manuela Georgieva Maleeva-Fragnière (Bulgarian: Мануела Георгиева Малеева) (born 14 February 1967) is a Bulgarian former professional tennis player. She played on the WTA Tour between ...more
Ina Demireva is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Age: 30

Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria

Ina Dragomirova Demireva, married name Lutai, (Bulgarian: Ина Драгомирова Демирева; born 17 February 1989) is a Bulgarian former competitive ice dancer. With Juri Kurakin, she is the 2006 ...more
Steven Derounian is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Dec. at 89 (1918-2007)

Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria

Steven Boghos Derounian (April 6, 1918 – April 17, 2007) was a Republican Congressman of Armenian-American descent.
Hristo Botev is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Dec. at 28 (1848-1876)

Birthplace: Kalofer, Yuzhen tsentralen, Bulgaria

Hristo Botev (Bulgarian: Христо Ботев, also transliterated as Hristo Botyov) (6 January 1848 [O.S. 25 December 1847] – 2 June [O.S. 20 May] 1876), born Hristo Botyov Petkov (Bulgarian: Христо ...more
Stefan Marinov is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Dec. at 66 (1931-1997)

Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria

Stefan Marinov (Bulgarian: Стефан Маринов) (1 February 1931 – 15 July 1997) was a Bulgarian physicist, researcher, writer and lecturer who promoted anti-relativistic theoretical viewpoints, and ...more
Mara Mattuschka is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Age: 60

Birthplace: Sofia, Bulgaria

Mara Mattuschka is a film director, film editor, screenwriter, actor, cinematographer and film score composer.
Albert Aftalion is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list Famous People From Bulgaria
Dec. at 82 (1874-1956)

Birthplace: Ruse, Bulgaria, Severen tsentralen, Bulgaria

Albert Abram Aftalion (October 21, 1874, Rusçuk, Ottoman Empire – December 6, 1956, Geneva, Switzerland) was a French economist. He taught at the Paris University (1925–1939). He ...more