Neli
Neli is a name with multiple cultural origins: Bulgarian, Slovene.
- Bulgarian
- Slovene
Meaning & Origin of Neli
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Neli is a name with multiple cultural origins: Bulgarian, Slovene.
Origin data from Behind the Name .
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Bulgarian
- Slovene
The Story of Neli
American parents first put Neli on the record books as a baby girl name in 1975, with 5 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 2007, when 15 Nelis were born — ranking #8,097 that year. The 2000s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 31% of all recorded Nelis. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #8,217 among baby girl names with 12 births, rising sharply (+55% over the past five years). In total, more than 337 Nelis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Neli
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Neli. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Neli
Phonetically similar names — useful when Neli is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Neli
What does the name Neli mean?
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How popular is Neli in 2026?
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About the name Neli
Neli is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1975 and has accumulated 337 births in the dataset. Neli's peak popularity came in 2007 when it ranked #7,280. Use the chart and map above to compare Neli's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2007 →
- Names of the 2000s →
- Names starting with "N" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.