Kalev (given name)

Kalev
Gender Male
Language(s) Estonian
Origin
Region of origin Estonia
Other names
Related names Kalevi

Kalev is an Estonian masculine given name, derived from national folk hero Kalev. Related Finnish names are Kaleva and Kalevi.

Its meaning is most often "giant", "tall strong man". The etymology is uncertain. The Russian word голова (golova), "head" as in "headman" has been suggested, but is linguistically anachronistic. However, it could be Baltic (kalējs, "smith"), Finnic (kalea, "cool, hard") or Norse (Hlér, a sea god, from *xlewaz, or *xalewaz with an epenthetic vowel). It appears in historical records from 15th century onwards, although an uncertain mention dates to the 12th century.[1]

People named Kalev include:

  • Kalev Kallemets (born 1979), politician
  • Kalev Kallo (born 1948), politician
  • Kalev Katus (1955–2008), demographer
  • Kalev Kesküla (1959–2010), writer
  • Kalev Mark Kostabi (born 1960), American painter
  • Kalev Leetaru, American internet entrepreneur and academic
  • Kalev Ots (born 1949) engineer and politician
  • Kalev Rebane (born 1980), political activist
  • Kalev Sepp, American military analyst and strategist and former military officer
  • Kalev Vaska, writer

References

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