Boris Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: BOR-iss //ˈbɔːrɪs//
Origin: Slavic; Greek
Meaning: Slavic: 'wolf'; Greek: 'of the city'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Boris has its roots in the Slavic languages, deriving from the Old Slavic name "Borislav," which is composed of the elements "bor" meaning "battle" or "fight" and "slav" meaning "glory" or "fame." The name has undergone various transformations through linguistic evolution, entering the Russian language as "Boris" and subsequently being adopted into other Slavic languages. The earliest recorded use of the name can be traced back to the medieval period, particularly in the context of the Kievan Rus', where it was borne by several notable figures.
One of the most significant historical milestones associated with the name Boris is the life of Saint Boris, a Christian martyr and prince of Bulgaria, who was killed in the early 10th century. His veneration in the Eastern Orthodox Church contributed to the name's prominence in Slavic regions.
Additionally, Boris Godunov, who ruled as Tsar of Russia from 1598 to 1605, is another key figure linked to the name. His reign marked a tumultuous period in Russian history, and he is often remembered in literature and opera, notably in Modest Mussorgsky's opera "Boris Godunov," composed in the 19th century.
Culturally, the name Boris has been associated with strength and leadership, resonating with the themes of valor and glory inherent in its etymological roots. The name has also been linked to various historical and literary figures, reinforcing its significance in Slavic culture.
Diminutive forms such as "Borya" have emerged, reflecting the affectionate and familiar usage of the name in various contexts. Overall, Boris embodies a rich tapestry of historical and cultural significance, firmly rooted in the Slavic linguistic tradition.
Famous people named Boris
In this section, you will find notable people named Boris. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Boris who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Boris who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Boris Becker is a former professional tennis player best known for winning six Grand Slam singles titles.
Boris Karloff is an actor best known for his role as Frankenstein's monster in Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, and The Mummy.
Boris Diaw is a former professional basketball player best known for playing with the San Antonio Spurs and winning an NBA championship.
Boris Yeltsin is a historical figure best known for being the first President of Russia after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Fictional characters named Boris
The following list of fictional characters named Boris is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Boris Badenov is a fictional character from the animated television series The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. He is a bumbling Russian spy who often attempts to thwart the protagonists' plans alongside his partner Natasha Fatale.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Boris, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Boris. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Boris was first seen in the United States in 1911.
Boris has ranked as high as #1041 nationally, which occurred in 1970, and has been most popular in New York, California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Boris has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Boris is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Boris was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Boris (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Boris.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 35 |
| 2023 | 32 |
| 2022 | 34 |
| 2021 | 42 |
| 2020 | 50 |
| 2019 | 48 |
| 2018 | 52 |
| 2017 | 51 |
| 2016 | 47 |
| 2015 | 49 |
| 2014 | 54 |
| 2013 | 64 |
| 2012 | 47 |
| 2011 | 48 |
| 2010 | 47 |
| 2009 | 46 |
| 2008 | 73 |
| 2007 | 49 |
| 2006 | 65 |
| 2005 | 61 |
| 2004 | 65 |
| 2003 | 52 |
| 2002 | 59 |
| 2001 | 55 |
| 2000 | 56 |
| 1999 | 52 |
| 1998 | 62 |
| 1997 | 53 |
| 1996 | 50 |
| 1995 | 72 |
| 1994 | 65 |
| 1993 | 59 |
| 1992 | 65 |
| 1991 | 71 |
| 1990 | 54 |
| 1989 | 47 |
| 1988 | 36 |
| 1987 | 54 |
| 1986 | 36 |
| 1985 | 40 |
| 1984 | 38 |
| 1983 | 45 |
| 1982 | 36 |
| 1981 | 38 |
| 1980 | 31 |
| 1979 | 34 |
| 1978 | 35 |
| 1977 | 30 |
| 1976 | 43 |
| 1975 | 40 |
| 1974 | 54 |
| 1973 | 51 |
| 1972 | 54 |
| 1971 | 58 |
| 1970 | 82 |
| 1969 | 66 |
| 1968 | 59 |
| 1967 | 56 |
| 1966 | 61 |
| 1965 | 54 |
| 1964 | 63 |
| 1963 | 62 |
| 1962 | 76 |
| 1961 | 63 |
| 1960 | 37 |
| 1959 | 46 |
| 1958 | 43 |
| 1957 | 34 |
| 1956 | 38 |
| 1955 | 32 |
| 1954 | 20 |
| 1953 | 20 |
| 1952 | 26 |
| 1951 | 19 |
| 1950 | 9 |
| 1949 | 14 |
| 1948 | 9 |
| 1947 | 16 |
| 1946 | 12 |
| 1945 | 9 |
| 1944 | 7 |
| 1943 | 9 |
| 1942 | 10 |
| 1941 | 14 |
| 1940 | 11 |
| 1939 | 15 |
| 1938 | 12 |
| 1937 | 21 |
| 1936 | 15 |
| 1935 | 21 |
| 1934 | 28 |
| 1933 | 23 |
| 1932 | 34 |
| 1931 | 35 |
| 1930 | 33 |
| 1929 | 35 |
| 1928 | 29 |
| 1927 | 34 |
| 1926 | 33 |
| 1925 | 41 |
| 1924 | 37 |
| 1923 | 50 |
| 1922 | 40 |
| 1921 | 45 |
| 1920 | 29 |
| 1919 | 24 |
| 1918 | 44 |
| 1917 | 36 |
| 1916 | 35 |
| 1915 | 27 |
| 1914 | 19 |
| 1913 | 10 |
| 1912 | 13 |
| 1911 | 5 |