Kalle is a masculine given name of North Germanic origin, a variation of

Karl Karl may refer to: People * Karl (given name), including a list of people and characters with the name * Karl der Große, commonly known in English as Charlemagne * Karl Marx, German philosopher and political writer * Karl of Austria, last Austria ...

. In

Sweden Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...

, people named Karl are commonly nicknamed Kalle. The name is also found in

Finland Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...

and

Estonia Estonia, formally the Republic of Estonia, is a country by the Baltic Sea in Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland across from Finland, to the west by the sea across from Sweden, to the south by Latvia, a ...

Notable people with the name include:

Given name

* Kalle Anttila (1887–1975), Finnish freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestler and Olympic medalist *

Kalle Bask Kalle Bask is a Finnish sailor. He competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the 49er class, with helmsman Lauri Lehtinen Lauri Aleksanteri Lehtinen (10 August 1908 – 4 December 1973) was a Finnish long-distance runner, winner of a contro ...

(born 1982), Finnish sailor and Olympic competitor * Kalle Björklund (born 1953), Swedish footballer *

Kalle Brink Karl Henrik Brink (born 12 August 1975) is a Swedish professional golfer who has played on the European Tour and the Challenge Tour. Brink was born in Helsingborg, Sweden. His sister, Maria, is also a professional golfer, who has competed on the ...

(born 1975), Swedish professional golfer * Kalle Coster (born 1982), Dutch sailor and Olympic medalist *

Kalle Dalin Kalle Dalin (born March 8, 1975) is a Sweden, Swedish orienteering Competition, competitor and European champion. He received a gold medal in ''long distance'' at the 2004 European Orienteering Championships, and also a bronze medal in the Relay ...

(born 1975), Swedish orienteering competitor *

Kalle Eerola Kalle Eerola (born 1 November 1983) is a Finnish former professional footballer who played as a left-back. Career He won the Finnish Cup with FC Haka in 2005. He retired from football in 2013 as part of the Ilves Ilves (; Finnish for " Lynx" ...

(born 1983), Finnish professional football midfielder * Kalle Eller (born 1940), Estonian poet, publisher, neopagan and writer * Kalle Grünthal (born 1960), Estonian politician *

Kalle Havulinna Kalle Havulinna (September 27, 1924 – July 9, 2016)) was a Finnish professional ice hockey player who played in the top professional league in Finland, the SM-liiga. He played 10 seasons with the Tampere Ilves. He was inducted into the Finnis ...

(born 1924), Finnish professional ice hockey player * Kalle Jalkanen (1907–1941), Finnish cross-country skier and Olympic medalist * Kalle Jents (born 1957), Estonian politician * Kalle Jürgenson (born 1960), Estonian astrophysicist and politician * Kalle Kaijomaa (born 1984), Finnish ice hockey defenceman * Kalle Kainuvaara (1891–1943), Finnish diver and Olympic competitor *

Kalle Kaljurand Kalle Kaljurand (born 12 May 1960) is an Estonian badminton player. He was born in Tartu. In 1983 he graduated from University of Tartu with a degree in economic cybernetics, and 2002 from the university of Tartu with a degree in business manageme ...

(born 1960), Estonian badminton player * Kalle Käsper (born 1952), Estonian author * Kalle Katajisto (born 1991), Finnish motorcycle speedway rider * Kalle Kauppi (born 1992), Finnish footballer * Kalle Keituri (born 1984), Finnish ski jumper and Olympic competitor * Kalle Kiik (born 1963), Estonian chess player and coach *

Kalle Kiiskinen Kalle Kiiskinen (born 6 September 1975 in Hyvinkää) is a Finnish curler. In Juniors, Kiiskinen played for Perttu Piilo and won a silver medal as his third at the 1997 World Junior Curling Championships. Kiiskinen then joined up with ...

(born 1975), Finnish curler and Olympic competitor * Kalle Könkkölä (born 1950), Finnish politician * Kalle Kriit (born 1983), Estonian professional racing cyclist * Kalle Kulbok (born 1956), Estonian politician * Kalle Kurg (born 1942), Estonian poet, writer, critic, translator and editor *

Kalle Laanet Kalle Laanet (born 25 September 1965, in Orissaare, Saare County) is Estonian politician and police officer. He is member of XIV Riigikogu. Since 2014 he belongs to Estonian Reform Party. 2002–04 he was police prefect of Tallinn ( et, Tallinn ...

(born 1965), Estonian politician *

Kalle Lappalainen Kaarlo "Kalle" Kustaa Lappalainen (30 September 1877 – 9 May 1965) was a Finnish sport shooter who competed in the 1920 Summer Olympics. In 1920 he won the silver medal as member of the Finnish team in the team running deer, single shots ...

(1877–1965), Finnish sport shooter and Olympic medalist * Kalle Larsson (born 1969), Swedish politician * Kalle Lasn (born 1942), Estonian-born Canadian film maker, author, magazine editor and activist * Kalle Lassila (born 1985), Finnish cross country skier and Olympic competitor * Kalle Maalahti (born 1991), Finnish professional ice hockey player *

Kalle Mäkinen Kalle Mäkinen (born 1 February 1989) is a Finnish footballer who last played for the Finnish Veikkausliiga club Maskun Palloseura Maskun Palloseura (abbreviated Masku) is an association football Association football, more commonly known ...

(born 1989), Finnish footballer * Kalle Mattson (born 1990), Canadian musician * Kalle Mikkonen (born 1976), Finnish sprint canoer and Olympic competitor *

Kalle Moraeus Karl Anders "Kalle" Moraeus (born 15 July 1963) is a Swedish musician, actor, composer and television presenter.Kalle Moraeus, official homepage. http://www.kallemoraeus.com/ Moraeus was born in Mora. He is a member of the folk group Orsa Spelmä ...

(born 1963), Swedish musician *

Kalle Muuli Kalle Muuli (born 10 January 1958 in Tapa) is an Estonian journalist, poet and politician. He was a member of XIII Riigikogu XIII Riigikogu was the thirteenth legislature of Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu The Riigikogu (; from Estonian ''r ...

(born 1958), Estonian journalist, poet and politician * Kalle Multanen (born 1989), Finnish professional footballer *

Kalle Nämdeman Kalle Nämdeman (31 December 1883 – 28 June 1945) was the stage name of Karl Gustafsson, a Swedish songwriter, performer and recording artist. Life and legacy As a young man Kalle Nämdeman apprenticed as a goldsmith, but he eventually began w ...

(1883–1945), Swedish songwriter, performer and recording artist * Kalle Olsson (born 1984), Swedish politician * Kalle Olsson (born 1985), Swedish professional ice hockey player *

Kalle Päätalo Kaarlo (Kalle) Alvar Päätalo (11 November 1919 – 20 November 2000) was a Finnish novelist, the most popular Finnish writer in the 20th century. His ''Iijoki'' series, comprising 26 novels, is one of the longest autobiographical works ever ...

, (1919–2000), Finnish novelist *

Kalle Palander Kalle Markus Palander (born May 2, 1977 in Tornio) is a Finland, Finnish retired alpine skiing, alpine skier, the most successful male Finn ever in the sport. Career In 1999 Palander won the Alpine World Skiing Championships, world championship ...

(born 1977), Finnish alpine skier *

Kalle Palling Kalle Palling (born 27 February 1985 in Käru) is an Estonian politician, representing the Reform Party. Palling was first elected to the Riigikogu The Riigikogu (; from Estonian ''riigi-'', of the state, and ''kogu'', assembly) is the unica ...

(born 1985), Estonian politician * Kalle Parviainen (born 1982), Finnish football striker *

Kalle Randalu Kalle Randalu (born 25 November 1956) is an Estonian pianist. Randalu was born in Tallinn, and trained at the Moscow Conservatory under Lev Vlassenko. In 1981-82 Randalu was awarded two competition prizes: he shared the VII Tchaikovsky Competit ...

(born 1956), Estonian pianist * Kalle Rovanperä (born 2000), Finnish rally driver * Kalle Samuelsson (born 1986), Swedish Bandy player * Kalle Spjuth (born 1984), Swedish Bandy player *

Kalle Svensson Karl-Oskar Svensson (11 November 1925 – 15 July 2000), often nicknamed Rio-Kalle, was a Swedish football goalkeeper from Helsingborg. He played on elite level for Helsingborgs IF during his whole career, debuting in Allsvenskan only 18 ...

(1925–2000), Swedish football goalkeeper * Kalle Tuppurainen (1904–1954), Finnish skier and Olympic competitor *

Kalle Varonen Kalle Varonen (born April 11, 1974, in Ulvila, Finland) is a retired freestyle sprint swimmer from Finland. Varonen competed for his native country at 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. His best result was a 12th place with the men's 4×1 ...

(born 1974), Finnish freestyle swimmer *

Kalle Vellevoog Kalle Vellevoog (born April 14, 1963, in Tallinn) is a notable Estonian architect. Kalle Vellevoog studied in the State Art Institute of the Estonian SSR (today's Estonian Academy of Arts) in the department of architecture. He graduated from th ...

(born 1963), Estonian architect *

Kalle Westerdahl Kalle Fredrik Åke Sture Westerdahl, born 4 August 1966 in Askim, Gothenburg Municipality) is a Swedish actor. He has travelled around and played his monologue ''Man i djungeln''. Selected filmography *1988 - '' Xerxes'' *1993 - ''Allis med is ...

(born 1966), Swedish film and television actor * Kalle Westerlund (1897–1972), Finnish wrestler and Olympic medalist Fictional characters: * Kalle, a fictional Finnish talk show host portrayed by Kristen Wiig on ''

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (often abbreviated to ''SNL'') is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC and Peacock. Michaels currently serves a ...

'' *''Kalle Blomkvist'', a fictional character created by

Astrid Lindgren Astrid Anna Emilia Lindgren (; ; 14 November 1907 – 28 January 2002) was a Swedish writer of fiction and screenplays. She is best known for several children's book series, featuring Pippi Longstocking, Emil of Lönneberga, Karlsson-on- ...

; see

Bill Bergson Bill Bergson ( sv, Kalle Blomkvist) is a fictional character created by Swedish writer Astrid Lindgren. The first book featuring him was published in 1946. Lindgren's detective story is about Bill Bergson, a more-or-less ordinary Swedish boy with ...

Surname

Maya Kalle-Bentzur Maya may refer to: Civilizations * Maya peoples, of southern Mexico and northern Central America ** Maya civilization, the historical civilization of the Maya peoples ** Maya language, the languages of the Maya peoples * Maya (Ethiopia), a populat ...

(born 1958), Israeli Olympic runner and long jumper *

Wilhelm Ferdinand Kalle Wilhelm (Jakob) Ferdinand Kalle (born 19 February 1870 in Biebrich (Wiesbaden); died 7 September 1954 in Wiesbaden) was a German chemist, industrialist and politician. Life His father was industrialist Wilhelme Kalle. He studied at Universi ...

(1870-1954), German chemist, industrialist and politician

Stage name

Le Grand Kallé Joseph Athanase Tshamala Kabasele (16 December 1930 in Matadi, Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of the Congo) – 11 February 1983 in Paris, France), popularly known as Le Grand Kallé, was a Congolese singer and bandleader, considered the ...

, a Congolese musician *

Pépé Kallé Pépé Kallé, sometimes written as Pepe Kalle (November 30, 1951 – November 29, 1998) was a Congolese soukous singer, musician and bandleader. Biography Pépé Kallé was born Kabasele Yampanya in Kinshasa (then Léopoldville) in the Belgian ...

, a Congolese musician

Given name

Surname

Stage name

See also