Abstract
This paper deals with lexical-semantic categories of place names in Bulgaria which distinguish from the other categories of toponyms by some motivation-semantic characteristics. On the basis of the origin of the place names and the denomination motivation are differentiated two main groups and many subgroups of names. The first main group includes place names derived from appellatives, adjectives, adverbs and numeratives. Two types of names are differentiated here: topographical and cultural, which split into a large number of subtypes. In the second main group are included the place names from proper names which also have two basic types of place names from anthroponyms and from toponyms to which refers a number of subtypes. Many other semantic categories of place names exist too, among which are the single meaning and double meaning names, the names with uncertain or unclear etymology, the loans translation and others