Hungarian Names List

Imagine meeting someone named Nagy Anna in Budapest. A few days later, you see her name written as Anna Nagy in an English-language article.

Same person. Same name. Just a completely different order.

Welcome to the wonderfully confusing world of Hungarian names.

Hungarians have a habit of doing things a little differently when it comes to names. They put their last names first, have some surprisingly funny names when translated into English, and celebrate something called a name day, which is almost like having a second birthday.

And that's just the beginning.

Once you understand how Hungarian names work, you'll discover that they're full of history, personality, and a few quirks that are genuinely entertaining.

Why Are Hungarian Names Backwards?

One of the first things foreigners notice about Hungarian names is that they appear to be written backwards.

In most English-speaking countries, people write their first name followed by their surname.

In Hungary, it's the opposite.

Hungarians traditionally write their family name first, followed by their given name.

For example:

Hungarian Name	English Name Order
Nagy Anna	Anna Nagy
Kovács János	János Kovács
Szabó Péter	Péter Szabó
Kiss Katalin	Katalin Kiss
Tóth László	László Tóth

So, if someone introduces themselves as Kovács János, their first name is actually János, not Kovács.

It's a little confusing at first, especially when you're filling out forms, making reservations, or trying to figure out how to address someone.

But to Hungarians, there's nothing backwards about it.

It's simply the way names have traditionally been organized.

This naming convention is sometimes called the Eastern name order, a structure also used in countries such as Japan, China, and Korea.

Hungary is one of the few European countries where this system remains the standard domestic convention.

Even famous Hungarian names follow this pattern. The composer known internationally as Béla Bartók is Bartók Béla in Hungarian.

The important thing to remember is that Hungarians generally switch to the familiar given-name-first order when introducing themselves in English-speaking settings.

Funny Hungarian Names That Actually Mean Something

Now things get interesting.

Many Hungarian surnames began as descriptions of someone's appearance, personality, occupation, or place of origin.

Hundreds of years ago, people needed ways to distinguish one János from another. One might be tall, another might work as a blacksmith, and another might have blond hair.

Over time, those descriptions became family names.

Some of the results are pretty funny when translated literally into English.

Funny Hungarian Last Names and Their Meanings

Hungarian Last Name	English Meaning
Nagy	Big or large
Kiss	Small or little
Farkas	Wolf
Kövér	Fat or stout
Szőke	Blond
Fekete	Black
Fehér	White
Pap	Priest
Kovács	Blacksmith
Szabó	Tailor
Varga	Shoemaker
Juhász	Shepherd

Consider the names Nagy and Kiss.

One means big, and the other means small.

Both are extremely familiar Hungarian surnames.

And perhaps the funniest one for English speakers is Kiss.

You might assume it's pronounced like the English word for a romantic gesture, but in Hungarian it's closer to "kish."

It doesn't mean anything romantic at all. It simply means little or small.

Of course, someone named Nagy doesn't necessarily have to be big, and someone named Kiss doesn't have to be small.

The names reflect historical descriptions, not the appearance of people today.

Still, knowing the translations can make reading Hungarian names unexpectedly entertaining.

Funny Hungarian First Names Are Even Better

Hungarian surnames aren't the only ones with surprising meanings.

Some genuine Hungarian first names are ordinary Hungarian words that sound rather unusual when translated into English.

And yes, people really can have these names.

Here are some wonderful examples.

Álmos — Sleepy

Álmos is a traditional Hungarian male name with deep historical significance.

It was the name of the legendary father of Árpád, a central figure in early Hungarian history.

But here's the funny part.

In modern Hungarian, the word álmos means sleepy.

Imagine introducing yourself as Sleepy.

The historical name's exact etymology is debated, so that isn't necessarily how the original name was understood. But the modern linguistic coincidence is difficult to miss.

Szilárd — Solid

Szilárd is a genuine Hungarian male name.

It also means solid, firm, or steadfast.

There's something wonderfully practical about a name that essentially describes someone as solid.

It's particularly amusing when you imagine introducing yourself in English as Solid Smith.

Boglárka — Buttercup

Boglárka is a Hungarian female name that refers to the buttercup flower.

It's a lovely name, and the nickname Bogi is commonly used.

While it might sound unusual to English speakers, flower-inspired names are completely natural in Hungarian.

Eperke — Little Strawberry

Yes, Little Strawberry is a real Hungarian given name.

Eper means strawberry, and Eperke is a diminutive form.

It sounds almost like something you'd call a child affectionately, yet Eperke appears on Hungary's official list of permitted given names.

Bogárka — Little Bug

Another genuine Hungarian female name is Bogárka.

Bogár means bug or beetle, while the ending makes the word diminutive.

Little Bug might not sound like the most obvious choice for a baby name in English, but Hungarian uses affectionate diminutives in ways that don't always translate neatly.

Napsugár — Sunbeam

Napsugár literally means sunbeam or ray of sunshine.

Unlike some names that have obscure origins, this one carries a beautiful meaning that is immediately understandable to Hungarian speakers.

A Few More Unusual Hungarian Names

Hungary's published given-name register also contains some surprising possibilities:

• Mogyoró: Hazelnut
• Pipacs: Poppy
• Acél: Steel
• Virág: Flower
• Aragorn: Yes, the name familiar from The Lord of the Rings
• Anakin: Yes, that Anakin from Star Wars

Not all of these names are common, of course. Appearing on the permitted-name list doesn't mean thousands of Hungarian children have them.

But the range is fascinating.

Hungarian names can be ancient, poetic, nature-inspired, practical, or occasionally something straight out of a fantasy movie.

Hungarian Name Days: Why Hungarians Get Another Celebration

Perhaps the most charming Hungarian naming tradition has nothing to do with spelling or pronunciation.

It's the Hungarian name day, known as névnap.

In Hungary, many people celebrate not only their birthday but also a special day associated with their first name.

Imagine waking up one morning to messages from friends and family wishing you a happy name day.

You might receive flowers, chocolates, or a small gift.

And the occasion has absolutely nothing to do with when you were born.

It's simply your name's day on the calendar.

How Do Hungarian Name Days Work?

Traditionally, Hungarian calendars associate particular first names with particular days of the year.

For example:

Hungarian Name	A Commonly Celebrated Name Day
Anna	July 26
László	June 27
Katalin	November 25
Mihály	September 29
István	December 26

Some names appear on multiple dates, and different calendars may list additional possibilities.

For example, István also has a name day associated with August 20, the feast day of Saint Stephen and a major national holiday in Hungary.

People generally follow a familiar or preferred date rather than celebrating every date associated with their name.

Unlike the registration of given names, name days themselves aren't legally fixed by the Hungarian government.

The tradition comes from historical and religious calendars and has evolved over time.

Is a Hungarian Name Day Like a Birthday?

In some ways, yes.

But it is usually a smaller, simpler celebration.

A birthday might involve a party, a special dinner, or larger presents.

A name day is often more relaxed.

Friends may send greetings, coworkers might offer congratulations, and family members may give flowers, sweets, or another small gift.

Some families make quite a celebration of name days, while others barely observe them.

The lovely thing about the tradition is that someone can be remembered and celebrated on an ordinary day simply because of their name.

It's a small gesture that can carry a surprising amount of warmth.

What Do You Say on a Hungarian Name Day?

The most useful phrase is:

Boldog névnapot!

It means "Happy Name Day!"

You may also hear:

Boldog névnapot kívánok!

That's a slightly fuller way of wishing someone a happy name day.

If you have Hungarian friends, learning this phrase is worth the effort.

Remembering someone's name day can be a thoughtful surprise, especially if they don't expect a foreign friend to know about the tradition.

Where Did the Hungarian Name Day Tradition Come From?

The tradition dates back to the Christian custom of honoring saints on particular days of the year.

Historically, children were frequently named after saints, and the feast day associated with that saint became a day of celebration.

Over time, the custom expanded beyond religious names.

Today, Hungarian name days are largely a cultural tradition rather than a strictly religious observance.

Names without a direct connection to a saint can also have name days.

And the tradition is not exclusive to Hungary. Variations exist in several European countries, including Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and Greece.

Still, Hungary is a country where the custom remains particularly recognizable in everyday life.

You may even encounter name-day listings in calendars and other daily publications.

It's one of those traditions that visitors often know nothing about until a Hungarian friend casually announces that it's their name day.

Another Hungarian Naming Surprise: Married Women's Names

Just when you think you've figured out Hungarian names, marriage introduces another twist.

Traditionally, Hungarian women could adopt a married name formed using their husband's full name with the suffix -né.

For example, imagine a man named Kovács János.

His wife might traditionally use the name:

Kovács Jánosné

The ending -né indicates that the woman is the wife of János Kovács.

Notice something unusual?

Her own first name isn't visible in that traditional form.

For English speakers, this can be especially confusing when researching old family records or trying to identify relatives.

Of course, modern Hungarian women have several legal naming options.

They can retain their birth name or choose from different married-name forms, including arrangements that incorporate their own given name.

The traditional -né form remains an interesting reminder of how naming customs have evolved.

Why Do Hungarians Have So Many Nicknames?

Another distinctive feature of Hungarian names is the enormous variety of affectionate nicknames.

A person might have one name on their passport and an entirely different version used by friends and family.

For example:

Formal Hungarian Name	Common Nickname
István	Pisti or Pista
László	Laci
Katalin	Kati
Zoltán	Zoli
Erzsébet	Erzsi
Ferenc	Feri
Mária	Mari
Zsuzsanna	Zsuzsi

Sometimes these nicknames are so familiar that outsiders may not immediately recognize the connection to the person's official name.

You could know someone as Pisti for years before discovering his actual name is István.

Hungarian uses diminutive endings extensively, and names often develop affectionate variations that are used well into adulthood.

It's a friendly and personal aspect of the language that can take foreigners a little time to understand.

Can You Give a Baby Any Name in Hungary?

Not exactly.

Hungary has a formal system for registering given names.

For Hungarian-language name registration, parents generally choose from an approved list of names. A name that isn't already on the list can be submitted for consideration through the applicable procedure.

This is quite different from countries where parents have broad freedom to invent entirely new names or spellings.

The official Hungarian list contains traditional names such as István, Katalin, and László, alongside modern, foreign-derived, and highly unusual options.

It also helps explain why certain international names appear with spellings adapted to Hungarian pronunciation.

There are additional provisions for recognized national minorities, who may use their own approved naming lists.

The result is a system that attempts to preserve Hungarian linguistic traditions while still allowing the range of names to evolve.

And considering names such as Eperke, Anakin, and Aragorn have appeared on the published register, the range is certainly broader than many foreigners would expect.

Frequently Asked Questions About Hungarian Names

Do Hungarians really put their last name first?

Yes. In Hungarian-language settings, the traditional order is surname first, then given name. In international settings, Hungarians often reverse that order to match local conventions.

Why are Hungarian names backwards?

Hungarian uses a family-name-first naming convention, sometimes called Eastern name order. It differs from the naming order commonly used in English-speaking countries but is entirely normal in Hungary.

What are the most common Hungarian last names?

Some of the most familiar Hungarian surnames include Nagy, Kovács, Tóth, Szabó, Horváth, Kiss, and Varga. Many originated from occupations, personal characteristics, or ancestral associations.

What are some funny Hungarian names?

Names such as Álmos, Szilárd, Bogárka, Eperke, and Napsugár can sound funny or charming when their Hungarian meanings are translated into English. Some common surnames, including Nagy and Kiss, also produce amusing translations.

What is a Hungarian name day?

A Hungarian name day, or névnap, is a traditional celebration associated with someone's given name. It is separate from their birthday and often involves greetings, flowers, chocolates, or small gifts.

Do all Hungarians celebrate their name days?

No. The tradition is widespread, but participation varies. Some people celebrate enthusiastically, while others treat the occasion as little more than an opportunity to exchange greetings.

How do you wish someone a happy name day in Hungarian?

Say Boldog névnapot! It's the standard Hungarian expression for "Happy Name Day!"

More Hungarian Names: A Big List of First Names and Last Names

Hungary has an enormous variety of names, from traditional names passed down through generations to modern favorites and some truly unusual choices.

Here is a larger collection of Hungarian names you might encounter. Some have distinctly Hungarian origins, while others were adopted from different languages and became familiar in Hungary.

Remember that Hungarians traditionally write the family name first, followed by the given name.

Hungarian Boy Names

Ábel, Ádám, Ágoston, Ákos, Aladár, Álmos, András, Antal, Áron, Árpád, Ármin, Artúr, Attila, Balázs, Bálint, Barnabás, Béla, Bence, Benedek, Bendegúz, Benett, Benjámin, Bertalan, Boldizsár, Botond, Csaba, Csongor, Dániel, Dávid, Dénes, Dezső, Dominik, Donát, Dorián, Előd, Endre, Erik, Ferenc, Félix, Gábor, Gellért, Gergely, Gergő, György, Gyula, Hunor, Imre, István, János, Jenő, József, Kálmán, Károly, Kende, Konrád, Kornél, Kristóf, Krisztián, Lajos, László, Levente, Lőrinc, Marcell, Márk, Márton, Máté, Mátyás, Mihály, Miklós, Milán, Mirkó, Nándor, Nimród, Noel, Norbert, Olivér, Ödön, Pál, Patrik, Péter, Richárd, Róbert, Roland, Sámuel, Sándor, Simon, Soma, Szabolcs, Szilárd, Tamás, Teodor, Tibor, Vilmos, Vince, Viktor, Zalán, Zente, Zétény, Zoltán, Zsolt, Zsombor.

Hungarian Girl Names

Abigél, Adél, Adrienn, Ágnes, Ágota, Alíz, Amália, Andrea, Anikó, Anna, Aranka, Barbara, Beáta, Bernadett, Bianka, Blanka, Bogárka, Boglárka, Borbála, Boróka, Cecília, Csenge, Csilla, Dóra, Dorina, Dorottya, Edit, Eleonóra, Elina, Eliza, Emese, Emília, Emma, Enikő, Erika, Erzsébet, Eszter, Éva, Evelin, Fanni, Flóra, Franciska, Fruzsina, Gabriella, Gréta, Hajnalka, Hanna, Hanga, Henrietta, Ildikó, Ilona, Irén, Izabella, Janka, Jázmin, Johanna, Judit, Júlia, Kamilla, Karolina, Katalin, Kinga, Klára, Krisztina, Laura, Léna, Lili, Liliána, Lilla, Luca, Lujza, Maja, Margit, Marianna, Mária, Mira, Napsugár, Natália, Nikolett, Noémi, Nóra, Olívia, Orsolya, Panna, Petra, Piroska, Réka, Renáta, Rita, Róza, Sára, Szabina, Szandra, Szilvia, Szonja, Tímea, Tünde, Viktória, Virág, Zita, Zoé, Zsófia, Zsuzsanna.

Hungarian Last Names and Surnames

Many Hungarian surnames originated from occupations, physical characteristics, geographic locations, or ethnic descriptions.

Here are 50 familiar Hungarian family names:

Nagy, Kovács, Tóth, Szabó, Horváth, Varga, Kiss, Molnár, Németh, Balogh, Farkas, Lakatos, Papp, Takács, Juhász, Oláh, Mészáros, Simon, Rácz, Fekete, Szilágyi, Török, Fehér, Balázs, Gál, Kis, Szűcs, Orsós, Kocsis, Fodor, Szalai, Bíró, Bognár, Hegedűs, Pintér, Veres, Vörös, Sipos, Orbán, Lukács, Király, Katona, Márton, Hajdú, Somogyi, Gulyás, Fazekas, Fülöp, Kelemen, Boros.

Where Can You Find a Complete List of Hungarian Names?

Hungary's official given-name register contains thousands of names, far more than can fit into a single article.

For anyone interested in discovering more Hungarian names, their origins, meanings, nicknames, and traditional name days, the ELTE Hungarian Given Name Finder is an excellent resource.

Whether you're researching Hungarian family history, looking for a baby name, or simply curious about unusual names from around the world, Hungarian naming traditions offer a fascinating place to explore.

Hungarian Names Are Anything but Ordinary

Hungarian names tell you more than simply what someone is called.

They reflect centuries of history, family traditions, cultural influences, and the wonderfully distinctive character of the Hungarian language.

From surnames that mean Big and Little to first names that translate into Sleepy, Sunbeam, or Little Strawberry, there's plenty to discover.

And then there are name days, a tradition that gives friends and families another excuse to remember and celebrate one another.

So the next time you meet someone from Hungary, don't be surprised if their surname comes first, their nickname sounds nothing like their official name, or they announce that they're celebrating their name day.

That's simply part of what makes Hungarian names—and Hungarian culture—so interesting.

And if you want to make a good impression on a Hungarian friend, remember two little words:

Boldog névnapot!