Nelli sits next to 5 phonetic neighbors — Nellie, Nelly, and Nella are the closest matches by sound. Most share Nelli's Scandinavian cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"Bright, shining light"
"festival of roses"
"grace, favor"
"enlightenment, awakening"
"name of God"
"lea land, grassy clearing"
"from Sebaste, revered, venerable"
"beloved, dear"
"flower that blooms in adversity"
"light of the meadow"
"beloved, drop of the sea (Mary) + house of God (Beth)"
"pale, shining light"
"God is gracious (feminine form)"
"Of noble nature"
"my God is abundance or my God is an oath"
"to float, calm water"
"purity, renewal"
"rare, elegant material"
"royal, kingly"
"symbol of peace and wisdom"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Nelli — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Greek via Latin Eleanor origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Nelli.
Rhythm: Nelli is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.