Boris Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Boris has its roots in Slavic languages, meaning 'warrior' or 'fighter'. It evolved from its Old Slavic form and has been consistently used in various modern Slavic languages. The name is associated with strength and leadership, which is reflected in its historical usage and the notable figures who bear it. There is no direct biblical relevance to the name.
The name Boris is most popular in New York, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Boris has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Boris' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1258th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1577th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1335th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1167th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1560th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2166th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2708th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Boris' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Boris"
Pronunciation
/ˈbɔːrɪs/
Origin
Slavic
Etymology
The name Boris is believed to be derived from the Slavic root 'bor', meaning 'battle' or 'warrior'. It is also associated with the Bulgarian word 'boris', which means 'to fight'.
Meaning
warrior, fighter
Language Evolution
Boris (Old Slavic), Boris (Modern Slavic languages)
Historical Usage
The name Boris gained popularity in Eastern Europe, particularly in Bulgaria and Russia, during the early Middle Ages. It became well-known due to the reign of Boris I of Bulgaria in the 9th century, who converted the country to Christianity.
Variants & Derivatives
Borys, Borisz, Borysław
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Boris is recognized as a strong and traditional name in many Slavic countries. It has a robust and resilient image, often associated with leaders and historical figures.
Famous People
Boris Yeltsin - Former President of Russia, Boris Johnson - Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Becker - German tennis player
Explore More Boris Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Boris"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Boris"
"Boris" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1258th of 7545 | 522 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1577th of 6773 | 361 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1335th of 7552 | 639 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1167th of 10718 | 808 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1560th of 16616 | 806 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 2166th of 24088 | 890 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2708th of 23106 | 558 |
Regional Popularity of "Boris" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
56.78% 804th/1416 |
38.00% 524th/1379 |
- |
76.36% 872nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
73.67% 1139th/1546 |
42.48% 661st/1556 |
- |
73.11% 1131st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
55.73% 1241st/2227 |
41.98% 1020th/2430 |
47.18% 1346th/2853 |
42.56% 1181st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
60.98% 1791st/2937 |
26.01% 906th/3483 |
32.52% 1144th/3518 |
29.62% 1198th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
55.28% 2037th/3685 |
26.08% 1167th/4475 |
38.06% 1977th/5194 |
18.17% 1148th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
57.14% 2618th/4582 |
31.74% 1639th/5164 |
32.35% 2366th/7313 |
21.01% 1568th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
76.51% 3048th/3984 |
48.58% 2180th/4487 |
36.24% 2472nd/6822 |
39.07% 2452nd/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Boris" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Boris"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Boris" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.