SVCS
Name Day

Name Day for Svetoslav

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
→ View full holiday page→ Other February holidays
July

Name day for Olga, Olya, Svetoslav and Oleg — Saint Olga of Kiev, Equal-to-the-Apostles.

Celebrating names:

СветославСветославаОлегОлгаОля
→ View full holiday page→ Other July holidays
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
→ View full holiday page→ Other December holidays

About the name Svetoslav

Etymology & meaning

Svetoslav is a Slavic compound of "svet" (light/holy) and "slav" (glory) — "glorifying the light" or "holy glory". The feminine is Svetoslava; pet forms are Slavi and Svetlyo.

History & patron saint

The name was borne by Prince Svyatoslav of Kiev and by the Bulgarian tsar Todor Svetoslav (1300–1321), who steadied the realm after the Tatar strife. By tradition Svetoslav celebrates in July, together with Olga — the Kievan saint and grandmother of the baptiser of Rus.

Traditions & customs

The feast is a summer one, with guests and toasts to a bright name and good repute. A second wave of bearers also celebrates on Ignazhden in December.

Popularity & notable bearers

Svetoslav sits firmly among the favoured Old Bulgarian names and is returning for newborns with the broader Slavic revival wave.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When is the name day for Svetoslav?

Svetoslav is celebrated on 6 February and 11 July and 20 December.

Which names celebrate on 11 July?

On 11 July, name day is celebrated by those named Svetoslav and related Bulgarian name variants (5 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 Svetoslav mean?

Svetoslav is a Slavic compound of "svet" (light/holy) and "slav" (glory) — "glorifying the light" or "holy glory". The feminine is Svetoslava; pet forms are Slavi and Svetlyo.

How popular is Svetoslav in Bulgaria?

Svetoslav sits firmly among the favoured Old Bulgarian names and is returning for newborns with the broader Slavic revival wave.

Names celebrating with Svetoslav

SvetlanaPlamenOgnyanOlgaIgnat / Ignatius

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