Kabeliai is a village in Varėna district municipality, in Alytus County, in southeastern Lithuania. According to the 2011 census, the village has a population of 168 people. According to the 1921 census, the village was inhabited by 258 people, among whom 240 were Roman Catholic, 4 Orthodox, and 14 Mosaic. At the same time, 8 inhabitants declared Polish nationality, 1 Belarusian, 14 Jewish and 235 Lithuanian. There were 44 residential buildings in the village. In the years 1921-1945 the village was within the borders of Poland. Kabeliai village is located c. 24 km from Druskininkai, 19 km from Marcinkonys, 1 km from Ašašninkai (the nearest settlement) and 2 km from the Belarusian border.

Demographics

Etymology

The name Kabeliai is of unclear origin. It may be from a Lithuanian personal name Kabẽlis which is known only from Panevėžys region and possibly comes from a word ('a hang, a crook, a gaff'). Otherwise, it could be from Slavic personal names, which descent from 'a male wolf, a male dog, a womaniser'. It could be directly from this word as it is said that Kabeliai was a hunting dog breeding place. Finally,, mean 'a basket', so it could mean 'a basket weathers' place'.