Bulgarian Anthroponym as a (Balkan) Text

This article considers a proper name as text: linguistic, semiotic, sociocultural, and ethnographic ‘narrative.’ The author assumes that the anthroponymic space in modern Bulgaria is live environment which permanently developing transforming. retains archaic patterns while adding new ones, combining tendencies for unification individual diversification. analysis of system shows significant Balkan influence, multiple equivalents between Slavic borrowed vocabulary, well presence all-Balkan names common suffixes. Personal text contains linguistic information (etymology, folk etymology, its lexicographic representation); family stories (a narrative on choosing name, kin names, interconnection relatives friends; cultural, ideological impact, fashion); church festive allusions (calendar days). Lexicographic interpretation anthroponyms peculiar because suggestive modality, flexibility, creativity, absence markedness, removal semiotic binaries us — them, male female, old new, collective, sameness diversity etc. There strong loyalty to tradition keeping reveals itself name-giving newborns: it might be precise repetition elders, or just one syllable even letter part this combination parts two several (as way compromise). Bulgarian Christian Orthodox Church rather liberal terms baptismal day celebration makes behind more elaborate, making true detective story. research material retrieved from dictionaries personal published onomastic studies, author’s interviews, observations, field data. It complete with case study reading female Vaia.