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