Kovalenko is a Ukrainian surname. It is a patronymic surname derived from the occupational nickname koval, "blacksmith". Notable people with the surname include:Aleksandr Kovalenko (disambiguation), multiple people Alevtina Kovalenko, Russian bobsledder Anastassia Kovalenko, Estonian motorcycle road racer Andrei Kovalenko (disambiguation), multiple people Bohdan Kovalenko, Ukrainian footballer Dema Kovalenko, Ukrainian footballer Igor Kovalenko, Ukrainian chess grandmaster Irina Kovalenko, Russian model Iryna Kovalenko, Ukrainian high jumper Kostiantyn Kovalenko, Ukrainian footballer Lyudmyla Kovalenko, Ukrainian athlete Nikolai Kovalenko – Russian and American ice hockey player Oleg Kovalenko, Ukrainian footballer Oleksandr Kovalenko (disambiguation), multiple people Oleksii Oleksandrovych Kovalenko (1981–2022), Ukrainian military pilot Sergey Kovalenko (disambiguation), multiple people Viktor Kovalenko (disambiguation), multiple people Vitali Kovalenko, Russian volleyball player Vyacheslav Kovalenko, Russian diplomat Yevhen Kovalenko, Ukrainian footballer Yuriy Kovalenko (1977–2014), Ukrainian soldier and Hero of Ukraine recipient Yuriy Kovalenko (1966–2023), Ukrainian scientist, archaeologist, local historian, teacher, musician, and staff sergeant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.