Boris

♂ Boy

Pronounced BOR-is /ˈbɔr.ɪs/High

Meaning: From the Bulgar khan's name Boris, possibly Turkic for 'wolf' or 'short'; folk tradition links it to Slavic bor, 'battle, fight'Low

In 30 seconds: A khan, two tsars, a chess engine's nightmare, and a Muppet villain's cousin: Boris is the Bulgar-born Slavic heavyweight whose root may mean 'wolf'. Growls beautifully in any accent.

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Origin MediumBulgar, Slavic

MeaningFrom the Bulgar khan's name Boris, possibly Turkic for 'wolf' or 'short'; folk tradition links it to Slavic bor, 'battle, fight'

U.S. rank (2024)#3328 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births35 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1970

Total births (all-time)≈ 4,584

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Boris entered Slavic royalty with Khan Boris I, who Christianized Bulgaria in 864; his name is likely Bulgar Turkic — 'wolf' and 'short' are candidate readings — though folk etymology ties it to Slavic bor, 'battle'. Sainted princes, two Godunov-era tsars, Pasternak, Spassky, Yeltsin, and Becker carried it across a millennium.

In the U.S. it reads strongly Slavic and slightly theatrical — Karloff and cartoon Borises did that. It remains rare, a bear-coat of a name with genuine royal lining.

Did you know? Boris Karloff — born plain William Pratt in London — chose the name for its Slavic menace, proving its horror-movie wattage decades before Halloween needed him.

Overall data confidence 70%

Behind the Name — Boris — etymology, debated

Variations

BorysBorislavBorja

Nicknames

BoryaBo

Famous Bearers

★Boris Pasternak (1890–1960)
Russian poet and novelist, author of Doctor Zhivago and Nobel laureate.

If you like Boris…

Ivan— the fellow bedrock Slavic classic

Dimitri— the Russian staple with Western ease

Viktor— a companion strong-man Slavic favorite

Vladimir— the princely name from the same Christianizing era

Browse the whole category: All Bulgar names → · All Slavic names → · All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Boris mean?

Boris likely comes from a Bulgar Turkic name meaning 'wolf' or 'short'; folk tradition links it to Slavic bor, 'battle'.

How do you pronounce Boris?

It's said BOR-is /ˈbɔr.ɪs/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Boris a boy or girl name?

Boris is a boy's name.

How popular is Boris?

Boris is rare in the U.S. and classic across the Slavic world.