Oleg (russian: Олег), Oleh ( uk, Олег), or

Aleh Aleh is a transliteration from Belarusian Алег of the Eastern Slavic name Oleg. It is sometimes spelled as "Aleg". Notable people *Jo Aleh (born 1986), New Zealand sailor, national champion, world champion, Olympic champion Places *Pareh Ale ...

( be, Алег) is an East Slavic

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a ...

. The name is very common in Russia, Ukraine and Belаrus. It derives from the

Old Norse Old Norse, Old Nordic, or Old Scandinavian, is a stage of development of North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and their overseas settlement ...

''Helgi'' ( Helge), meaning "holy", "sacred", or "blessed". The feminine equivalent is

Olga Olga may refer to: People and fictional characters * Olga (name), a given name, including a list of people and fictional characters named Olga or Olha * Michael Algar (born 1962), English singer also known as "Olga" Places Russia * Olga, Russia, ...

. While Germanic in origin, "Oleg" is not very common outside Eastern European countries.

Russian pronunciation

Олег (Oleg) is pronounced �ˈlʲekin Russian. The English pronunciation of Oleg is based on the transliteration of the Cyrillic alphabet, and overlooks three key features of the Russian pronunciation: # The stress is on the second syllable. In spoken Russian, the initial short unstressed 'O' is reduced to � similar to the 'a' as in 'about'. # The 'л' (l) becomes palatalized to ʲ─ that is, it gains a 'y'-like quality, and but is still most closely approximated by a plain English 'l'. # The word-final final 'г' (g) is

devoiced Voice or voicing is a term used in phonetics and phonology to characterize speech sounds (usually consonants). Speech sounds can be described as either voiceless (otherwise known as ''unvoiced'') or voiced. The term, however, is used to refer ...

to Thus, rather than "Oh-leg", the phonetically closest approximation of the Russian pronunciation of Oleg in English is the name

Alec Alec or Aleck is a Scottish form of the given name Alex. It may be a diminutive of the name Alexander or a given name in its own right. Notable people with the name include: People *Alec Aalto (1942–2018), Finnish diplomat * Alec Acton (1938– ...

, but with stress on 'E'.

Ukrainian pronunciation

Ukrainian pronunciation of the name 'Олег' is different from Russian, though the same Cyrillic letters are used in writing. Ukrainian 'Олег' is pronounced ˈlɛɦand becomes 'Oleh' in English according to the transliteration rules.ТАБЛИЦЯ транслітерації українського алфавіту латиницею
kmu.gov.ua

Belarusian spelling and pronunciation

In Belarusian, the name is spelled and pronounced as "Алег" ˈlʲeɣso that the first letter changes to "A" according to the Belarusian feature of akannye. The last letter is also pronounced differently, which renders the Latin transliteration 'Aleh'.

People named Oleg

Rulers and nobles

* Oleg of Novgorod, 9th–10th-century leader and conqueror of Kievan Rus' *

Oleg of Drelinia Oleg was a Rurikid ruler of the Drevlians from 969 to his death in 977. He was the second son of Sviatoslav I of Kiev. Date of birth is not known, but is probably before 957. Sviatoslav split up his domains, and gave the Drevlyan lands to Oleg. O ...

(died 977), ruler of Drelinia *

Oleg I of Chernigov Oleg Svyatoslavich (russian: Олег Святославич; 1052 – August 1115) was a Rurikid prince whose equivocal adventures ignited political unrest in Kievan Rus' at the turn of the 11th and 12th centuries. Oleg was a younger son ...

, Oleg Svyatoslavich of Tmutarakan, 11th–12th century Rurikid prince * Oleg III Svyatoslavich (Prince of Chernigov) (c. 1147–1204) * Oleg Yaroslavich (1161?–1189), Rurikid prince *

Oleg I of Ryazan Oleg I Ingvarevich the Red, or ''the Handsome'', was Prince of Ryazan from 1252 to 1258."OLEG Ingvarevich 'Krasny' (-8 or 20 Mar 1258). Prince of Riazan 252 Year 252 ( CCLII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full ca ...

, 13th-century prince of Ryazan Principality *

Prince Oleg Konstantinovich of Russia Prince Oleg Konstantinovich of Russia ( – ) was a son of Grand Duke Constantine Constantinovich. He died of wounds suffered in battle against the Germans during World War I. Early life Prince Oleg was generally considered to be the brightes ...

(1892–1914), Russian royalty

Others

Oleg Aleynik Oleg Igorevich Aleynik (russian: Олег Игоревич Алейник; born 8 February 1989) is a Russian professional footballer. He plays for FC Rotor Volgograd. Club career He made his Russian Football National League debut for FC Met ...

(born 1989), Russian professional football player *

Oleg Andronic Oleg Andronic (born 6 February 1989) is a Moldovan footballer who plays as a forward. Career Club He made his debut on 16 March 2008 against Olimpia Bălţi and scored his first goal from a penalty in the same match. In 2008, he became t ...

(born 1989), Moldovan footballer *

Oleg Anfimov Oleg Anfimov (1937–2019) was a Soviet engineer and politician who was the minister of electrical equipment industry of the Soviet Union between 1986 and 1991. Biography Anfimov was born in Shakhty on 19 February 1937. He was a graduate of th ...

(1937–2019), Soviet engineer and politician *

Oleg Anofriyev Oleg Andreyevich Anofriyev (sometimes spelled Anofriev, russian: link=no, Олег Андреевич Анофриев; 20 July 193028 March 2018), PAR, was a Soviet and Russian theatreРусский драматический театр: Энци ...

(1930–2018), Soviet and Russian stage and screen actor, voice actor, singer, songwriter, film director, poet *

Oleg Antonenko Oleg Vladimirovich Antonenko (russian: Олег Владимирович Антоненко) (born 1 July 1971 in Minsk, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union) is a Belarusian professional former ice hockey left wing. Antonenko began playing profess ...

(born 1971), Belarusian professional ice hockey left wing *

Oleg Antonov (aircraft designer) Oleg Konstantinovich Antonov (russian: Оле́г Константи́нович Анто́нов; 7 February 1906 – 4 April 1984) was a Soviet aeroplane designer, and the founder of the Antonov Design Bureau (located in Kyiv, Ukraine), named ...

(1906–1984), Soviet aircraft designer, founder of Antonov ASTC *

Oleg Antonov (volleyball) Oleg Yaroslavovich Antonov (russian: Олег Ярославович Антонов; born 28 July 1988) is a Russian-born Italian volleyball player, a member of the Italy men's national volleyball team and Italian club Trentino Volley, silver med ...

(born 1988), Russian-born Italian volleyball player *

Oleg Atkov Oleg Yur'yevich At'kov (Russian: Оле́г Ю́рьевич Атько́в; born 9 May 1949) is a Russian cardiologist and former Soviet cosmonaut. With a doctorate from the Russian Academy of Medical Science, Atkov was chosen to be the health s ...

(born 1949), Russian cosmonaut *

Oleg Babenkov Oleg Mikhailovich Babenkov (russian: Олег Михайлович Бабенков; born 21 June 1985) is a Russian former professional football player. Club career He made his Russian Football National League debut for FC Petrotrest Saint P ...

(born 1985), Russian professional football player *

Oleg Baklanov Oleg Dmitriyevich Baklanov (russian: Олег Дмитриевич Бакланов; 17 March 1932 – 28 July 2021) was a Soviet politician, and high functionary in government and industry. He was a scientist and businessman. As Minister of Ge ...

(1932–2021), Soviet/Ukrainian politician, scientist and businessman *

Oleg Basilashvili Oleg Valerianovich Basilashvili (russian: Оле́г Валериа́нович Басилашви́ли; ka, ოლეგ ბასილაშვილი, ; born 26 September 1934) is a Soviet and Russian stage and film actor. People's Artist ...

(born 1934), Soviet/Russian film and theatre actor *

Oleg Belyakov Oleg Gennad'yevich Belyakov (russian: Олег Геннадьевич Беляков; born on 2 February 1972) is a former football goalkeeper. Career He played for several clubs in Uzbekistan, Ukraine, Azerbaijan. In 1991 Konchi Angren foo ...

(born 1972), Soviet football goalkeeper * Oleg Berdos (born 1987), Moldovan road bicycle racer * Oleg Bernov, musician and member of Russian-American rock band Red Elvises * Oleg Betin (born 1950), the governor of Tambov Oblast in Russia *

Oleg Blokhin Oleg Vladimirovich Blokhin, or Oleh Volodymyrovych Blokhin ( uk, Оле́г Володи́мирович Блохі́н, rus, Оле́г Влади́мирович Блохи́н; born 5 November 1952), is a former Ukrainian and Soviet footbal ...

(born 1952), Ukrainian football coach *

Oleg Bodrug Oleg Bodrug (born 23 February 1965, Chișinău) is a Moldovan politician, vice-president of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, co-chair of the Liberal Reformist Party. Biography Oleg Bodrug was born on 23 February 1965 in the city of ...

(born 1965), Moldovan politician *

Oleg Bogayev Oleg Anatolyevich Bogayev (russian: Оле́г Анато́льевич Бога́ев; also transliterated as Bogaev or Bogaiev; born 1970) is a Russian playwright based in Yekaterinburg. He has been described by ''Moscow Times'' theatre critic ...

(born 1970), Russian playwright based in Yekaterinburg *

Oleg Bogomolov Oleg Alexeyevich Bogomolov (russian: Оле́г Алексе́евич Богомо́лов) was the governor of Kurgan Oblast, Russia. He was born in Petukhovo in Kurgan Oblast on October 4, 1950. He became a member of the Kurgan Oblast ...

, governor of Kurgan Oblast *

Oleg Bolkhovets Oleg Bolkhovets (russian: Олег Bolkhovets; born April 20, 1976) is a Russian long-distance runner. He won the 2004 California International Marathon and competed in the marathon at the 2005 World Championships. Achievements References ...

(born 1976), Russian long-distance runner * Oleg Borisov (1929–1994), Russian film and theatre actor *

Oleg Bozhev Oleg Felevich Bozhev (russian: Олег Фелевич Божьев) (born 25 August 1961 in Moscow, Russian SFSR) is a former speed skater. He trained at VSS Trud. Short biography Competing for the Soviet Union, Oleg Bozhev had his best year i ...

(born 1961), Soviet speed skater * Oleg Brega (born 1973), Moldovan journalist and activist *

Oleg Bryjak Oleg Bryjak ( uk, Олег Брижак, 27 October 1960 – 24 March 2015) was a Kazakhstani-German bass-baritone opera singer. Born in Jezkazgan, Kazakh SSR, into an ethnic Ukrainian family, he moved to Germany in 1991 to join the Badisches Sta ...

(1960–2015), Kazakhstani operatic bass-baritone * Oleg Budargin (born 1960), governor of Taymyr Autonomous Okrug in Russia *

Oleg Buryan Oleg Yuriyevich Buryan (russian: Оле́г Ю́рьевич Бурья́н; born 1959) is a Russian artist, who lived in Moscow from the 1980s. In 2012, he moved to St-Petersburg, where he joined the St-Petersburg Union of Artists. He belongs to ...

(born 1959), Russian artist *

Oleg Caetani Oleg Caetani (born 1956) is an Italian conductor. Life and career Born in Lausanne, Caetani studied with Nadia Boulanger. At the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia in Rome, he studied conducting with Franco Ferrara and composition with Irma Ravinale ...

(born 1956), conductor of Russian and Italian descent *

Oleg Cassini Oleg Cassini (11 April 1913 – 17 March 2006) was a fashion designer born to an aristocratic Russian family with maternal Italian ancestry. He came to the United States as a young man after starting as a designer in Rome, and quickly got ...

(1913–2006), French-born American fashion designer *

Oleg Chernyshov Oleg Vladimirovich Chernyshov (russian: Олег Владимирович Чернышов; born 23 December 1986) is a Russian professional Association football, football player. He plays for FC Spartak Tambov, Spartak Tambov. Club career He m ...

(born 1986), Russian professional football player *

Oleg Chirkunov Oleg Anatolyevich Chirkunov (russian: Олег Анатольевич Чиркунов, ; born 15 November 1958) is a Russian politician who served as the governor of Perm Krai from 12 March 2004 to 28 April 2012. Early life He graduated ...

(born 1958), governor of Perm Krai, Russia * Oleg Chistyakov (born 1976), Russian professional football player * Oleg Crețul (born 1975), Moldovan judoka *

Oleg Dahl Oleg Ivanovich Dal (russian: Олег Иванович Даль; 25 May 1941 – 3 March 1981) was a Soviet and Russian stage and film actor. He acted in films, from classics of drama to fairy tales and adventures. His most popular works inclu ...

(1941–1981), Soviet actor *

Oleg Delov Oleg Leonidovich Delov (russian: Олег Леонидович Делов; born 25 May 1963) is a former Russian professional football coach and a former player. He made his professional debut in the Soviet Second League in 1981 for FC Avangard K ...

(born 1963), Russian professional football coach and a former player *

Oleg Denishchik Oleg Denishchik ( be, Алег Дзянішчык; born 10 November 1969) is a retired triple jumper who represented the USSR and later Belarus. His personal best jump was 17.53 metres, achieved in July 1991 in Kyiv. He twice competed at the Wor ...

(born 1969), triple jumper who represented the USSR and later Belarus *

Oleg Deripaska Oleg Vladimirovich Deripaska (russian: Олег Владимирович Дерипаска; born 2 January 1968) is a Russian billionaire and an industrialist. Deripaska enriched himself on previously state-owned assets that were privatized in ...

(born 1968), Russian business oligarch *

Oleg Dineyev Oleg Aleksandrovich Dineyev (russian: Олег Александрович Динеев; born 30 October 1987) is a Russian former footballer. References Russian men's footballers Russia men's youth international footballers Russia men's u ...

(born 1987), Russian footballer * Oleg Dmitrenko (born 1984), Russian professional football player * Oleg Dmitriyev (footballer, born 1973) (born 1973), Russian professional footballer *

Oleg Dolmatov Oleg Vasilyevich Dolmatov (Russian: Олег Васильевич Долматов; born 29 November 1948 in Chelyabinsk-40) is a Russian football manager and a former player. Honors * Soviet Top League winner: 1976 (spring) * Soviet Cup winn ...

(born 1948), former Russian footballer and a current manager *

Oleg Dudarin Oleg Ivanovich Dudarin (russian: Олег Иванович Дударин; born August 7, 1945) is a Russian professional football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqua ...

(born 1945), Russian professional football coach and a former player *

Oleg Dyomin Oleh Oleksiyovych Domin ( uk, Олег Олексійович Дьомін, russian: Олег Алексеевич Дёмин) (born 4 August 1947 in Lopatino, Tula Oblast) is a former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to ...

(born 1947), former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Russian Federation *

Oleg Gordievsky Oleg Antonovich Gordievsky, CMG (; born 10 October 1938) is a former colonel of the KGB who became KGB resident-designate (''rezident'') and bureau chief in London, and was a double agent, providing information to the British Secret Intelli ...

(born 1938), Soviet KGB agent who defected to the UK *

Oleg Grabar Oleg Grabar (November 3, 1929 – January 8, 2011) was a French-born art historian and archeologist, who spent most of his career in the United States, as a leading figure in the field of Islamic art and architecture. Academic career O ...

(1929–2011), French archeologist and historian of Islamic art, working in the United States * Oleg Ishutkin (born 1975), Russian race walker * Oleg D. Jefimenko (1922–2009), Ukrainian-American physicist and Professor Emeritus at West Virginia University * Oleg Dmitriyevich Kononenko (born 1964), Russian cosmonaut * Oleg Grigoriyevich Kononenko (1938–1980), Soviet cosmonaut * Oleg Koshevoy (1926–1943), Soviet partisan and co-founder of the Soviet resistance group, the Young Guard * Oleg Kovalyov (disambiguation), several people *

Oleg A. Korolev Oleg A. Korolev (born March 2, 1968) is Russian artist whose paintings have been exhibited and represented in the private and corporate art collections of Russia, Europe, North America, and Australia. Education Since 1979 studied in the Stud ...

(born 1968), Russian artist *

Oleg Ladik Oleg Ladik (born 18 September 1971) is a Ukraine, Ukrainian-born Canadian former Olympic Amateur wrestling, wrestler, who won a gold medal in the 1993 Maccabiah Games in Israel. He was born in Kyiv, Ukraine, and lives in Montreal, Quebec. Wrestli ...

(born 1971), Ukrainian-born Canadian Olympic wrestler * Oleg Losev (1903–1942), Russian scientist and inventor *

Oleg V. Minin Oleg V. Minin (russian: link=no, Олег Владиленович Минин) (born March 22, 1960 in Novosibirsk Academytown, Russia), is a Russian physicist, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Metrology and a full professor of P ...

(born 1960), Russian physicist *

Oleg Moldovan Oleg Moldovan (born 27 October 1966 in Chişinău) is a former sport shooting, sport shooter from Moldova. He won the silver medal at the 2000 Olympic Games in the 10 m Running Target event. He was beaten by Yang Ling of China by 0.1 of a point. ...

(born 1966), Moldovan sport shooter *

Oleg Nejlik Oleg Nejlik better known as just Oleg (born 24 August 1984 in Moscow) is a Swedish performer of Russian origin and based in Åkersberga, Sweden, who took part in '' Idol 2011'', the eighth season of the Swedish version of ''Idol''. He sang " Elektr ...

, Swedish singer *

Oleg Nikolaenko Oleg Yegorovich Nikolaenko ( rus, Олег Егорович Николаенко; born July 17, 1987) is a Russian computer criminal who created the Mega-D botnet, violating the CAN-SPAM Act of 2003. Federal investigators believe his activities ...

, Russian computer programmer, accused cyber-spammer * Oleg Novachuk, Kazakh businessman, currently Chief Executive of Kazakhmys *

Oleg Novitskiy Oleg Viktorovich Novitskiy (russian: Олег Викторович Новицкий; born October 12, 1971) is a former Lieutenant Colonel in the Russian Air Force who logged over 700 hours of flight time and was awarded for bravery. He is curr ...

(born 1971), Russian cosmonaut * Oleg Penkovsky (1919–1963), Soviet colonel *

Oleg Pogudin Oleg Evgenevich Pogudin (russian: Оле́г Евге́ньевич Погу́дин; born 22 December 1968) is a Russian singer, TV presenter and actor. He is noted for his vocal and artistic style of interpretation of Russian romances and tradi ...

(born 1968), Russian actor and singer *

Oleg Prokofiev Oleg Sergeyevich Prokofiev (russian: link=no, Оле́г Серге́евич Проко́фьев; 14 December 1928, Paris – 20 August 1998, Alderney) was an artist, sculptor and poet, and the son of composer Sergei Prokofiev. Artistic lif ...

(born 1928), Russian artist, son of Sergei Prokofiev * Oleg Prudius (born 1972), Ukrainian professional wrestler known by his ring name Vladimir Kozlov * Oleg Rykhlevich (born 1974), Belarusian freestyle swimmer * Oleg Sadikhov (born 1966), Israeli Olympic weightlifter * Oleg Sentsov (born 1976), Ukrainian filmmaker, writer and activist * Oleg Shteynikov (born 1985), Kazakhstani freestyle swimmer * Oleg Smirnov (disambiguation), several people *

Oleg Stepko Oleg Stepko ( uk, Олег Степко, born 25 March 1994 in Zaporizhzhya) is a Ukrainian (until 2014), Azerbaijani (2014–2018) and Russian (since March 2018) gymnast. Career Oleg competed for the national team at the 2012 Summer Olympics ...

(born 1994), Ukrainian and Azerbaijani artistic gymnast * Oleg Taktarov, (born 1967) Russian mixed martial artist and actor * Oleg Tverdovsky (born 1976), Ukrainian-Russian ice hockey player *

Oleg Velyky Oleg Velyky ( uk, Олег Великий, ''Oleh Welykyj'') (14 October 1977 – 23 January 2010) was a Ukrainian and German handball player. He was a World champion 2007 with the German national team (he was on the team roster, but did not p ...

(1977–2010), German handball player *

Oleg Vernyayev Oleg Yuriyovych Vernyayev ( uk, Олег Юрійович Верняєв; born 29 September 1993) is a Ukrainian artistic gymnast. He is the 2016 Olympic parallel bars champion and individual all-around silver medalist. Vernyayev is also the ...

(born 1993), Ukrainian gymnast *

Oleg Voloshyn Oleg Anatolievich Voloshyn (russian: Олег Анатольевич Волошин, uk, Олег Анатолійович Волошин; born 7 April 1981, Mykolaiv) is a Russian- Ukrainian journalist, political pundit on 112 Ukraine, politic ...

(born 1981), Russian-Ukrainian journalist, political pundit, and former government official

Fictional characters

Television series

* Vanko Oleg Golishevsky, on ''

2 Broke Girls ''2 Broke Girls'' (stylized ''2 Broke Girl$'') is an American television sitcom that aired on CBS from September 19, 2011, to April 17, 2017. The series was produced for Warner Bros. Television and created by Michael Patrick King and Whitney Cum ...

'' * Oleg Igorevich Burov, a

Soviet KGB The KGB (russian: links=no, lit=Committee for State Security, Комитет государственной безопасности (КГБ), a=ru-KGB.ogg, p=kəmʲɪˈtʲet ɡəsʊˈdarstvʲɪn(ː)əj bʲɪzɐˈpasnəsʲtʲɪ, Komitet gosud ...

officer played by

Costa Ronin Konstantin "Costa" Ronin (born 3 February 1979) is an Australian actor and cinematographer, best known for appearances in '' Red Dog'', as Gregorovich on the SBS drama '' East West 101'', as Oleg Igorevich Burov in the FX drama ''The Americans' ...

on ''

The Americans ''The Americans'' is an American period spy drama television series created by Joe Weisberg that aired on the FX television network for six seasons from January 30, 2013, to May 30, 2018. Weisberg and Joel Fields also serve as showrunners a ...

'' * Oleg the Prophet, ruler of

Kiev Kyiv, also spelled Kiev, is the capital and most populous city of Ukraine. It is in north-central Ukraine along the Dnieper River. As of 1 January 2021, its population was 2,962,180, making Kyiv the seventh-most populous city in Europe. Ky ...

, played by

Danila Kozlovsky Danila Valeryevich Kozlovsky (russian: link=no, Данила Валерьевич Козловский; born 3 May 1985) is a Russian actor and director. Biography Early life and career Danila Kozlovsky was born in Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet ...

on ''Vikings'' (based on ''Oleg of Novgorod'') * Oleg Mikcic, portrayed by Karl Herlinger on season 7 of

Dexter (TV series) ''Dexter'' is an American crime drama television series that aired on Showtime from October 1, 2006, to September 22, 2013. Set in Miami, the series centers on Dexter Morgan ( Michael C. Hall), a forensic technician specializing in bloodstain p ...

Movies

*Oleg,

Don Shirley Donald Walbridge Shirley (January 29, 1927 – April 6, 2013) was an American classical and jazz pianist and composer. He recorded many albums for Cadence Records during the 1950s and 1960s, experimenting with jazz with a classical influenc ...

's cellist in Green Book (film), played by Dimiter D. Marinov

References

{{Given name Slavic masculine given names Russian masculine given names Bulgarian masculine given names Ukrainian masculine given names Lists of people by given name