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Kalev
Kalev is a boy's name. The legendary hero-king and father of Kalevipoeg in Estonian mythology — a strongly patriotic name.
Meaning
The legendary hero-king and father of Kalevipoeg in Estonian mythology — a strongly patriotic name.
Origin
Native Estonian, from the national epic.
Name day
The traditional Estonian name day for Kalev is June 23. In Estonia and Finland that is a day to send a quick word of congratulation. Name-day calendars differ between countries and are updated from time to time, so the same name can fall on another date across the border.
More names
Jaan
"God is gracious." Jaan is tied to Midsummer — Jaanipäev, St John's Day, on 24 June is one of Estonia's biggest celebrations.
Kristjan
"A follower of Christ." A steadily popular Estonian boy's name.
Tiit
A distinctly Estonian name; the older meaning is uncertain, and it is valued mainly as a native form.
Peeter
"Rock" or "stone", from Greek petros. St Peter's day is 29 June.
Toomas
"Twin", from the Aramaic te'oma.
Andres
"Manly" or "brave", from Greek andreios. St Andrew's day is 30 November.
Source: Traditional Estonian name-day calendar; etymology is the standard documented origin. · checked 2026-09-04
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kalev mean?
The legendary hero-king and father of Kalevipoeg in Estonian mythology — a strongly patriotic name.
When is Kalev's name day?
The traditional Estonian name day for Kalev is June 23. It can fall on a different date in Finland or Sweden.
Where does the name Kalev come from?
Native Estonian, from the national epic.
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