Message: "Slavic name help needed"

Slavic name help needed

by Mike C

6/4/2009, 4:41 PM

I'm looking for some more information on the following names, particularly their historical usage and forms. I'd like to find out where and when the names where first documented and how they spread through eastern Europe. Are there are any examples of these names in old Slavic texts? I don't need information about their etymology unless it pertains to the above.

Bilyana / Biljana
Bogomil / Bogumil / Bohumil
Bogomir / Bohumir
Bogoslav / Bohuslav / Boguslaw
Boris
Borislav
Bozidar / Bozydar
Branimir
Branislav / Bronislav / Bronislaw

Thanks!
Mike

#Slavic

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- Desislava (guest)

7/27/2009, 6:09 PM

Bilyana/Biljana (Биляна) is a Bulgarian female name. It is believed that the origin comes from bilka (билка)= herb (in Engl.). It exists in the Bulgarain folklore - "Biliana, named on the herbs".
Boris becomes famous by Boris I (ruled 852-889), one of the most successful Bulgarian rulers. It is relatively common Bulgarian name. Some sources say that the meaning is "tiger" or "wolf". Others say that it may mean "to fight" = from "boria se".
Borislav is derivative of Boris and Slav, it's just one of the many male/female names ending on "slav/a".
Bozidar /Bozydar/Bozhidar (for better English pronounciation) - is also Bulgarian (probably not only). "Bozi"= from God, "dar" - gift. Gift from God is probably the meaning. Bozidara/Bozhidara is the female version.

- Sofia

6/5/2009, 3:50 PM

Branimir:

First record of the name Branimir is from the Croatian Duke Branimir (reign 879-892 A.D.) in the form ‘Branimir’. The name is also recorded as 'Brannimero' and 'Branimiro' in Latin documents from 879 and 888 A.D. respectively.

http://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Branimir

- Kirke (guest) +2

6/5/2009, 6:42 AM

More info

Polish wiki says that Boris (in Polish Borys) comes from what's called proto-Bulgarian. First recorded in writing as the name of of Boris I of Bulgaria:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_I_of_Bulgaria

Bogus³aw was firt noted in Poland at the beginning of the 13th century.

http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogus%C5%82aw

Bronimir is not noted in old Polish writings but it's use is assumed due to several city names that are derived from it.

- Ivayla +1

6/5/2009, 11:28 AM

Additionally

Bogomil has been around since at least the 10th century:

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/71461/Bogomils

However, it is not clear whether the sect was named after its founder or the founder assumed the name for its meaning after founding the sect.

When it comes to Boris, it is believed that while the name is not Slavic, it gained popularity in the Slavic world in conjunction with the christianization of Kievan Rus, and more importantly, the canonization of St. Boris and Gleb, two of the earliest Russian saints (canonized 1071). [It is known that one of their father's wives was Bulgarian, and it is believed that Boris was her son, though Gleb maybe wasn't].

This message was edited 6/9/2009, 4:31 PM

- Mike C

6/5/2009, 12:43 PM

Thanks Ivayla, very helpful.

- Kirke (guest) +1

6/5/2009, 6:35 AM

Polish language wiki has good info as far as forms. It doesn't always how far the usage goes.

For example, this is the page for Bogumi³:

http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogumi%C5%82

Main list by letter here:

http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kategoria:Alfabetyczna_lista_imion

- Mike C

6/5/2009, 12:42 PM

Thanks! I'll explore the Polish wiki.

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