SVCS
Name Day

Name Day for Svetlana

Everything about the date, name variants, and traditions

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February

Photios I of Constantinople - Name day for Photios, Photin, Photina, Photio, Dorothea, Ognyan, Ognyana, Iskra, Iskren, Svetlana, Svetla, Svetlio, Plamen, Svetozar, Svetlozar, Svetoslav, Svetlozara, Svetoslava. Celebrated on February 6th in honor of Patriarch Photios I, one of the most influential church figures in Byzantine history.

Celebrating names:

ФотийФотинФотинаФотьоДоротеяОгнянОгнянаИскраИскренСветланаСветлаСветльоПламенСветозарСветлозарСветославСветлозараСветославаДоротейДораСветланСветлинСветломира
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13 February
St. Evlogi
February

St. Evlogi - Name day for Evlogi, Evlogia, Zoya. Celebrated on February 13th in honor of St. Evlogi.

Celebrating names:

ЕвлогиЕвлогияЗояЖивкаСветлаСветлана
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20 December
Ignazhden
December

Name day for Ignat and related names - St. Ignatius Day (Ignazhden). One of the most important Bulgarian winter holidays associated with the winter solstice and traditional beliefs about the beginning of the new year.

Celebrating names:

ИгнатИгнатаИгнатийИгноИгньоИгоИгонИгаИнаИгнаткаИгнеИскраИскренИгнасияИгнасиоАгнаОгнянОгнянаПламенПламенаСветославСветлаСветлана
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27 December
Stefanovden
December

Name day for Stefan and Stephana - St. Stephen's Day

Celebrating names:

СтефанСтефкаСтефиСтефкоСтефчоСтеванСтивънСтепанСтефаСтефанаСтефанкаСтефанияСтефаниСтоянСтоянаСтоянкаСтаменСтаменаСтанСтанаСтанкоСтанеСтанимирСтанимираСтаниславСтаниславаСтанчоСветлинСтанулСтоилСтоилкаСтойкоСтойчоЧаньоЧанкоЧанкаЦанкоЦанкаЦоньоЦонкаЦонкоЦончоФаниВенецВенцеславВенцеславаВенциславВенциславаВенецияЗапринЗапрянЗапринаЗапринкаЗапряна
→ View full holiday page→ Other December holidays

About the name Svetlana

Etymology & meaning

Svetlana is a Slavic name from the root "svet" — light. It spread widely in the 19th–20th centuries; Bulgarian also keeps the older forms Svetla, Svetlin and Svetlan.

History & patron saint

The "light" names celebrate together with the "fire" names in early February — around the feast of Saint Photius (from the Greek φῶς, "light"). Svetlana, Svetla and Svetlin thus share the day with Plamen and Ognyan.

Traditions & customs

The feast is a domestic one, with guests and greetings that inevitably lean on the imagery of light — "may your soul be bright", "may you shine". Celebrants receive flowers, most often in light shades.

Popularity & notable bearers

Svetlana is most characteristic of mid-20th-century generations, while today the shorter Svetla and Svetlin are chosen more often — but the root stays alive across all ages.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the name day for Svetlana?

Svetlana is celebrated on 6 February and 13 February and 20 December and 27 December.

Which names celebrate on 6 February?

On 6 February, name day is celebrated by those named Svetlana and related Bulgarian name variants (23 names in total).

How is the name day celebrated in Bulgaria?

Name day celebrants traditionally welcome guests at home, receive gifts and congratulations. It is a cherished family occasion throughout Bulgaria.

What does the name Svetlana mean?

Svetlana is a Slavic name from the root "svet" — light. It spread widely in the 19th–20th centuries; Bulgarian also keeps the older forms Svetla, Svetlin and Svetlan.

How popular is Svetlana in Bulgaria?

Svetlana is most characteristic of mid-20th-century generations, while today the shorter Svetla and Svetlin are chosen more often — but the root stays alive across all ages.

Names celebrating with Svetlana

StefanPlamenOgnyanSvetoslavIgnat / IgnatiusStoyanStanislavVentsislav

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