Boris Yeltsin was the first freely elected President of Russia. He voluntarily resigned from the post after nine years, leaving the job to Putin.

• President (non-U.S.)
  (1931–2007)

Boris Karloff was an English-born actor who played the monster in Frankenstein and became synonymous with horror films of the 1930s.

• Film Actor
  (1887–1969)

Russian Boris Spassky held the title of World Chess Champion until his loss to American Bobby Fischer in the 1972 "Match of the Century."

• Chess Player
  (1937–)

Boris Pasternak was a Russian novelist and poet who wrote the epic Dr. Zhivago.

• Author, Poet
  (1890–1960)

German tennis great Boris Becker became the youngest men's champion in history with his victory at Wimbledon as a 17-year-old in 1985.

• Tennis Player
  (1967–)

Boris Godunov was a Russian statesman who was chief adviser to Tsar Fyodor I and was himself elected tsar after the extinction of the Rurik dynasty.

• (c. 1551–1605)