Antoniya is a Bulgarian feminine given name, derived from the Latin name Antonia, itself the feminine form of the Roman family name Antonius. The root name Anthony is of unknown Etruscan origin, but the name gained widespread Christian usage due to Saint Anthony the Great, a 4th-century Egyptian hermit considered the founder of Christian monasticism, and was further reinforced by the 13th-century Saint Anthony of Padua. Despite a common folk etymology associating Anthony with Greek anthos (flower), the spelling with an "h" only appeared in the 17th century. Usage and Distribution Antoniya is used primarily in Bulgaria, but it also appears in Russia, Israel, Vietnam, Moldova, Romania, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Russia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan. In the Slavic context, the name is a variant of Antonina. Notable Bearers Notable individuals with this name include Antoniya Grigorova (born 1986), a Bulgarian cross-country skier who has competed in the Olympics, and Antoniya Yordanova (born 1976), a Bulgarian long jumper who participated in multiple World Championships. Related Forms Masculine forms related to Antoniya include Andon, Anton, and Antoniy. Cognates in other languages include Swedish Antonia, Slovene Antonija, and Croatian Antea, Antica, Antonela, and Nela. Meaning: Feminine form of Antonius (Roman family name of Etruscan origin) Origin: Latin via Bulgarian Type: First name Usage regions: Bulgaria, Eastern and Central Europe, Israel, Central Asia