Birkelev was formerly part of the German Empire. In the German Empire, the place was called Birkeleff.
The place is now called Birkelev and belongs to Denmark.
| Historical place name | Country | Administration | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birkeleff | German Empire | Hadersleben | before the Versailles Treaty |
| Birkelev | Denmark | Tønder | after the Versailles Treaty |
| Birkelev | Denmark | Sønderjylland | 1993 |