Sobolev (masculine) and Soboleva (feminine) is a popular Russian surname, derived from the word "соболь" (sable). Notable people with the surname include:Arkady Sobolev, Russian diplomat Alexander Sobolev, geologist Aleksandr Sobolev, Russian footballer Aleksandr Sobolev, Russian footballer Aleksei Sobolev (footballer) (1968–2001), Russian footballer Anastasiya Soboleva, Ukrainian tennis player Boris Sobolev, Canadian health services researcher Denis Sobolev, Russian footballer Felix Sobolev (1931–1984), Ukrainian filmmaker Leonid Sobolev (1844–1913), Russian general Nikolay Sobolev (1936–2022), geologist Sergei Sobolev (politician) (b. 1961), Ukrainian politician Sergei Sobolev (1908–1989), Russian mathematician Stephan Sobolev, geophysicist Viktor Sobolev (disambiguation), several people Vitaliy Sobolev (1930–1995), Soviet footballer Vladimir Sobolev (disambiguation), several people Vladimir Sobolev (1908–1982), geologist Vyacheslav Sobolev, Kazakhstan footballer Yelena Soboleva, Russian runner