A connecting element for suspending an article from a structural element and for detachably connecting several articles with one another has a center part, a first lateral end area and a second lateral end area, wherein a first bent area connects the first lateral end area to the center part and a second bent area connects the second lateral end area to the center part. The first and second end areas are positioned within a common first plane and the center part is positioned in a second plane. The first plane and the second plane are parallel to one another and spaced at a spacing from one another. The spacing between the first and second planes is defined by a height of the first and second bent areas, respectively. The connecting element has two lateral openings; or a central cutout; or two lateral openings and a central cutout.