Nagy

Nagy is a Hungarian surname meaning “big” or “great.” It is one of the most common surnames in Hungary and among Hungarian-speaking communities worldwide. The name derives from the Hungarian adjective nagy and likely originated as a descriptive nickname for someone tall, powerful, or notable, later becoming a hereditary family name. In Hungarian usage, the surname is placed before given names in formal contexts, but in many English-language settings it appears after the given name as a conventional last name.

The surname is most prevalent in Hungary and in regions with historic Hungarian populations, including parts of Slovakia, Romania (Transylvania), and Vojvodina in Serbia. It has spread through the Hungarian diaspora to countries in North America, Western Europe, and beyond, where it is typically preserved in its original spelling.

Notable bearers include Imre Nagy (1896–1958), a Hungarian statesman who served as prime minister and emerged as a central figure during the 1956 Hungarian Revolution; he was executed following the suppression of the uprising. The name is carried by other individuals across politics, science, arts, and sports, reflecting its broad presence in Hungarian society and among people of Hungarian descent.