Meaning & History
Bogomil is a Bulgarian and Macedonian masculine given name. It is a form of Bogumił, which means "favoured by God" from the Slavic elements bogŭ "god" and milŭ "gracious, dear".
Historical and Religious Significance
The name is most famous due to its association with the priest Bogomil, the founder of Bogomilism, a Christian neo-Gnostic or pseudo-Gnostic dualist sect that emerged in the First Bulgarian Empire during the 10th century, under the reign of Tsar Peter I. Bogomilism likely arose in the region of Kutmichevitsa, now part of modern-day Macedonia. The sect believed in a dualistic cosmos, rejecting the physical church and the cross, and emphasizing the body as a temple. The movement influenced later dualistic heresies in Europe, such as Catharism.
Etymology and Variants
The root Bogumił is composed of bogŭ "god" and milŭ "gracious, dear". Related names include the Old Slavic Bogomilŭ and the Slovak Bohumil, among others. The name is predominantly used in Bulgaria and Macedonia.
- Meaning: "favoured by God"
- Origin: Slavic
- Type: Given name
- Usage regions: Bulgaria, Macedonia
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Bogomilism