According to data shared exclusively with haberbg.net by the National Statistical Institute (NSI), distinctive naming trends emerged among Turkish and Muslim families in Bulgaria in 2025.
Among boys, the most popular names were Aras and Mert, given to 78 and 73 newborns respectively. Other common male names included Emir (69), Ayaz (65), and Ali (51). For girls, Elif (55) and Melek (53) were the top choices, followed by Ala (49), Aleyna (41), and Masal (37).
The NSI data also highlighted broader naming trends across Bulgaria. Among the Bulgarian Christian population, the most common male names were Aleksandır, Georgi, and Kaloyan, while Sofiya, Mariya, and Viktoriya were the leading female names. The report noted greater diversity in female names compared to male names.
In terms of traditional names among the Turkish and Muslim population, Mehmet remained the most widely used male name, with 11,880 individuals. It was followed by Ahmed (10,342), Mustafa (9,771), Ali (7,621), and Hasan (6,312).
For women, Fatme ranked first with 13,532 bearers, followed by Ayşe (12,018), Emine (7,812), Cemile (3,117), and Anife (2,821).
These figures offer insight into both contemporary preferences for newborn names and the enduring popularity of traditional names within Bulgaria’s Turkish and Muslim communities.
