Veli is a male Finnish and Estonian given name, meaning ''brother''. It is also an

Ottoman Turkish Ottoman Turkish (, ; ) was the standardized register of the Turkish language in the Ottoman Empire (14th to 20th centuries CE). It borrowed extensively, in all aspects, from Arabic and Persian. It was written in the Ottoman Turkish alphabet. ...

name, mainly used by Ottoman affiliated populations as a male given name, meaning ''guardian''. Its original etymology in

Arabic Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...

meaning a "friend of God" when used in a religious-mystical context, and is the singular form of ''Evliya''.

People

Given name

* Veli Acar (born 1981), Turkish footballer * Veli-Matti Ahonen, Finnish ski jumper * Veli Kavlak (born 1988), Austrian footballer * Veli-Pekka Ketola (born 1948), Finnish ice hockey player * Veli Kızılkaya (born 1985), Turkish footballer * Veli Koota (born 1957), Finnish boxer * Veli Lampi (born 1984), Finnish footballer * Veli Lehtelä (1935–2020), Finnish rower * Veli-Matti Lindström (born 1983), Finnish ski jumper *

Veli Merikoski Veli Kaarlo Merikoski (2 January 1905 in Pyhtää – 28 January 1982 in Helsinki) was a professor at the University of Helsinki and once the Minister for Foreign Affairs representing the People's Party. Merikoski worked as an associate profes ...

(1905–1982), Finnish politician and professor * Veli Nieminen (1886–1936), Finnish gymnast and sports shooter * Veli Paloheimo (born 1967), Finnish tennis player * Veli Saarinen (1902–1969), Finnish cross-country skier

Surname

* Gursel Veli (born 1982), Turkish-Bulgarian footballer * Hacı Bayram-ı Veli (1352–1430), Turkish poet, founder of the Bayrami Sufi sect *

Haji Bektash Veli Haji Bektash Veli (; ; ; ) was an Islamic scholar, Mysticism, mystic, Wali, saint, sayyid, and philosopher from Greater Khorasan, Khorasan who lived and taught in Anatolia.C. Olsen: Celibacy and Religious Traditions. Oxford University Press. 1st ...

, Sufi mystic * Orhan Veli (1914–1950), Turkish poet * Bayezid II (Sultân Bayezid-î Velî) was the oldest son and successor of Mehmed II

Mythologic people

* Veļi, dead-soul spirits in

Latvian mythology Latvian mythology is the collection of myths that have emerged throughout the history of Latvia, sometimes being elaborated upon by successive generations, and at other times being rejected and replaced by other explanatory narratives. These myt ...

Places

* Veli (Gagra District), a village in Abkhazia, Georgia * Veli, a short name for the Croatian village Veli Lošinj * Veli, a former name of the Armenian town Tsaghkavan, Tavush

Other uses