What does Bogdan mean?
Bogdan means “given by God” in the Slavic languages.
What does Boris mean?
Boris is usually linked to the Slavic for “battle” or “fight.”
Bogdan vs Boris
Which is more popular?
Boris is more popular than Bogdan today: about 37 US babies were given the name Boris in 2025, compared with 34 named Bogdan.
| Bogdan | Boris | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Given by God | Battle, fight |
| Origin | Slavic | Slavic |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | BOG-dahn | BOR-iss |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1954 | 1911 |
| Peak year | 2024 (37) | 1970 (82) |
| In 2025 | 34 | 37 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Bogdan
Boris
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Bogdan | Boris |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 189 | 230 |
| 2010s | 249 | 507 |
| 2000s | 178 | 581 |
| 1990s | 89 | 603 |
| 1980s | 10 | 401 |
| 1970s | 17 | 481 |
| 1960s | 37 | 597 |
| 1950s | 10 | 287 |
| 1940s | 0 | 111 |
| 1930s | 0 | 237 |
| 1920s | 0 | 373 |
| 1910s | 0 | 213 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Bogdan or Boris more popular?
Boris is more popular than Bogdan today: about 37 US babies were given the name Boris in 2025, compared with 34 named Bogdan.
What is the difference between Bogdan and Boris?
Bogdan means Given by God (Slavic origin), while Boris means Battle, fight (Slavic origin).
Which name is older, Bogdan or Boris?
In US records, Bogdan first appears in 1954 and Boris in 1911, so Boris has the longer recorded history.