Gender-Neutral Names: A Boundary Phenomenon in the Bulgarian Anthroponomasticon

Since the beginning of the 21 st century, names that can be attributed to both girls and boys have been present in Bulgarian name lists. Such gender-neutral names are still rarely used as official names and are regarded as an innovation. They have appeared in Bulgarian naming practices as a result of the adoption of foreign naming patterns and have been interpreted as a boundary phenomenon in the contemporary anthroponomasticon as they contradict Bulgarian naming traditions and signify that traditional naming patterns are undergoing changes. Based on the official statistical data, this article describes how gender-neutral names in Bulgaria have evolved, what their nature and linguistic characteristics are, and last but not least, whether there are any specific features of Bulgarian gender-neutral names. Analyses have revealed a total of 29 forenames attributed to both girls and boys. Among these, three types of names have been identified: 1) diminutive names ending in -i: Niki, Toni; 2) borrowings such as Enis, Noa; and 3) a specific Bulgarian Rozalin type of gender-neutral name.