Cognomen Желев (Zhelev 
, Jelev 
, Желев 
) , in the world, is a common surname. The surname Желев is habitual in Bulgaria, where it is a common surname, Moldova, where it is quite a rare surname, and Greece, where it is a rare surname. Not in comparison with a country's population, this name is the most popular in Eastern Europe, particularly Bulgaria, Moldova, and Russia.
| VARIANT | COUNTRY |
|---|---|
| Zhelev | Germany, United Kingdom, United States, Bulgaria, Greece |
| Jelev | Romania, United Kingdom, Moldova, Bulgaria, United States |
| Желев | Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria |
|
захари желев Bulgarian painter, BG (b. 1868) |
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душо желев BG (b. 1880) |
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желю желев President of Bulgaria (1935-2015), BG (b. 1935) |
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вълчо желев BG (b. 1926) |
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живко желев Bulgarian singer and opera singer, BG (b. 1955) |
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илия желев Bulgarian painter, BG (b. 1961) |
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| иван желев BG (b. 1911) |
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| гроздьо желев BG (b. 1914) |
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светлозар желев Bulgarian poet, BG (b. 1974) |
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живко желев Bulgarian footballer, BG (b. 1979) |
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| иван желев BG (b. 1919) |
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| куню желев Bulgarian sculptor, BG (b. 1938) |
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милен желев Bulgarian footballer, BG (b. 1993) |
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| михаил желев Bulgarian athlete, BG (b. 1943) |
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| христо атанас желев Bulgarian rower, BG (b. 1947) |
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Иво, Антон, Артем, Артём, Борис, Генчо, Павел, Петро, Петко, Добри, Денис, Делчо, Васил, Жельо, Желчо, Живко, Ивайло, Стоян, Тодор, Роман, Румен, Федор, Ангел, Митко, Милен, Минчо, Гочо, Петр, Димо, Желю, Жеко, Олег, Илия, Иван, Емил, Еньо, Федір, Тачо, Тяню, Янко, Іван, Юрий, Юрій, Петър, Кольо, Кирил, Марин, Марко, Тоню, and Євген