About the name Nedelya
Etymology & meaning
Nedelya is a Bulgarian name from the word for Sunday — "ne-delya", the day of no work. Masculine forms are Nedyalko and Nedelcho; feminine — Nedyalka, Nedelina and the short Neda.
History & patron saint
Saint Nedelya (Kyriaki) is a 3rd-century martyr whose Greek name likewise means "the Lord's day". Sofia's Sveta Nedelya cathedral is dedicated to her. Her memory falls in July.
Traditions & customs
The feast is a domestic summer one — guests, a seasonal table and wishes "may every day be a Sunday". Villages with a Sveta Nedelya church keep the day as their fair as well.
Popularity & notable bearers
Nedelya and its derivatives are commoner in older generations and southern Bulgaria; the short Neda is making a quiet return among newborns.