Neli

Neli is a short form of names beginning with Nel-, most commonly used in Bulgarian and Slovene contexts as a diminutive of Nelija or Elena. Elena itself derives from the ancient Greek Helene, whose root is debated but often connected to the Greek word for torch or light, helene, or alternatively linked to Selene, the moon goddess. The name carries the long cultural legacy of Saint Helena, the fourth-century mother of Emperor Constantine the Great. Related forms include Nela, Nella, and the full form Elena.