Quick facts
Last updated July 2026
What it means
“Nefeli is a Greek girl name meaning "cloud." It is tied to Greek mythology through Nephele, a cloud nymph created by Zeus.”
Nefeli is one of those names that feels light the moment you say it. Its Greek meaning is simple and lovely: "cloud." That gives the name a soft, airy feeling, but it also gives it movement. Clouds change shape, carry rain, shade the sun, and drift across wide skies. For parents who like nature names but want something less common than Lily, Iris, or Aurora, Nefeli has a gentle, poetic kind of beauty. The name is connected to the Greek word for cloud and to the mythological figure Nephele. In Greek mythology, Nephele was a cloud nymph associated with Zeus. One tradition says Zeus created her from a cloud. Another commonly told myth links Nephele with Ixion and the birth of the centaurs. Because these stories come from ancient mythology rather than one tidy source, families may see the name in slightly different spellings and tellings, especially Nephele and Nefeli. Nefeli is the modern Greek-style spelling many English-speaking parents are most likely to notice today. Nephele is the more classical-looking form, closer to the version often used in mythological retellings. Both point back to the same cloud imagery. Nefeli, though, feels especially wearable as a baby name because it has a clear rhythm: ne-FEH-lee. It is three syllables, easy to say once heard, and distinctive without looking invented. The mood of Nefeli is dreamy, graceful, and quietly strong. A cloud may look delicate, but it can bring weather, change the light, and announce a new season. That gives the name a nice balance for a daughter: tender, imaginative, and full of quiet presence.
Why parents love it
Parents often love Nefeli because it feels rare without feeling hard. It has a clear meaning, "cloud," and a soft three-syllable rhythm that works well in English once people hear it: neh-FEH-lee. If you want a name that feels airy, feminine, and meaningful, Nefeli gives you all of that in six letters. It also has real roots. This isn't a newly made-up sound or a trendy spelling swap. Nefeli comes from Greek language and mythology, through Nephele, the cloud nymph connected with Zeus. That background gives the name a story your daughter can grow into. At age four, she can know her name means cloud. At fourteen, she can appreciate the myth and the poetry behind it. Another reason it stands out is rarity. Name Census estimates about 117 living Americans named Nefeli, with the name used almost exclusively for girls. So it has the lovely feeling of being discoverable. A Nefeli probably won't share her name with three classmates, but her name still sounds gentle, complete, and easy to love.
Heritage
Nefeli sits in a sweet spot between nature name and mythological name. In Greek, its meaning, "cloud," makes it feel connected to the sky in a very direct way. For a family with Greek heritage, the name can feel like a soft nod to language, story, and landscape. For a family without Greek roots, it may simply feel fresh, lyrical, and meaningful. The mythological connection gives Nefeli more depth than many modern nature names. Nephele, the related figure in Greek mythology, is described as a cloud nymph connected with Zeus. Some retellings include the story of her being created from a cloud, while others connect her to Ixion and the centaurs. These are ancient stories with adult themes, as Greek myths often have, so parents may want to choose how much of that background they share with a young child. For a little girl, the simplest version is usually enough: Nefeli means cloud, and it comes from Greek myth. There is no major religious rule, taboo, or naming restriction attached to Nefeli in the sources provided. It is used almost exclusively for girls in the United States data cited by Name Census. The name feels especially at home beside other Greek or myth-inspired choices, but it can also pair beautifully with simple family names. Think Nefeli Rose, Nefeli Jane, or Nefeli Sophia.
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The cloud meaning gives Nefeli a gentle, imaginative feeling, like a child who notices shapes in the sky.
Its soft sounds and mythological background make the name feel calm, elegant, and light.
Clouds are always changing, so Nefeli naturally suggests flexibility and an easy way with change.
A cloud can look delicate while still carrying rain and changing the whole weather of a day.
Original
Νεφέλη
Transliterations
Rose gives the airy first name a familiar floral anchor.
Jane is crisp and classic, which balances Nefeli's lyrical sound.
Sophia keeps the Greek feeling and adds a warm, well-known middle.
Claire means bright or clear in common name use, so it pairs nicely with the sky imagery.
Mae is short, sweet, and easy to say after a three-syllable first name.
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