Maleev

Maleev is a Slavic surname found in Russia and Bulgaria. In transliteration, the masculine form is commonly written as Maleev, while the Bulgarian feminine form is typically Maleeva. The name is part of the broader pattern in which Slavic surnames use the suffixes -ev/-eva to form family names, often with roots that derive from a given name or nickname.

Notable bearers of the name include Alex Maleev, a Bulgarian-born comic book artist known for his collaborations with writer Brian Michael Bendis on Marvel’s Daredevil and other projects such as The Nightly News. The feminine form of the surname, Maleeva, is well known in Bulgarian sports; for example, Manuela Maleeva, a former professional tennis player who competed at the highest levels alongside her sisters Katrin Maleeva and Magdalena Maleeva, all using the Maleeva surname.

Variants in transliteration can produce slight spelling differences across languages and archives, but Maleev remains a common English rendering for the masculine form. The name is primarily associated with individuals in the arts and sports, and does not denote a single geographic location, organization, or historical event.