Bela
Bela was the 5749th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 21 babies. Its best year was 1913, when it ranked 3239th; the most babies were born in 2010 (44). Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,585 places. More babies were named Bela in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Bella) pet form of Isabella; 'beautiful' · Italian
- Rank in 2025
- #5,749 girls, up 370 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 21girls
- Girls and boys
- 95% girls, 5% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 201044 babies
- Total since 1880
- 1,295babies recorded
What does the name Bela mean?
Bela is a spelling of Bella, pronounced the same way, so it shares Bella's meaning and origin.
Bella began as an Italian short form of names such as Isabella and Arabella. Wiktionary notes that it is popularly read as Italian bella, 'beautiful', which is not its origin as a pet form, while Wikipedia points out that some families use it directly with that word in mind. Isabella itself is a form of Elizabeth. Wikipedia credits the Twilight novels, whose heroine is Bella Swan, with increasing its use. Belle is the French equivalent.
bella (Italian, “beautiful”)Isabella (Italian, “form of Elizabeth”)
How sure is this? Probable. As a short form it carries its parent name's meaning; the 'beautiful' reading is a word association that some families intend.
Other explanations you may read: Means 'beautiful'.
Related names: Isabella, Arabella, Belle, Annabella, Izabella.
See also: Italian names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Bella', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Bella', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Isabel', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
Bela popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5,749 | — | 21 | — |
| 2020 | #6,119 | — | 19 | — |
| 2010 | #3,582 | — | 44 | — |
| 2000 | #6,530 | #6,904 | 16 | 9 |
| 1990 | — | — | — | — |
| 1980 | — | #4,538 | — | 8 |
| 1970 | — | #3,090 | — | 10 |
| 1960 | — | #2,888 | — | 9 |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | #5,062 | #4,350 | 5 | 5 |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Bela, counting every spelling?
Bela is a spelling of Bella, a name family that ranked #159 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #5,749 for Bela on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,157 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bella | 2,129 | #136 | 13,458 |
| Bela | 21 | #5,749 | 149 |
| Bellah | 7 | #12,111 | 46 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Bela?
21 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Bela (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Bela born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 401 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Bela.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Bela?
About 800 people born in the US named Bela are alive today, with a median age of 15; half are between 7 and 20. That makes Bela mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Bela by state
How common Bela was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in California (1.8×). In 47 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Bela: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Bela, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Bela
What does Bela mean?
Bela is a spelling of Bella, which means “pet form of Isabella; 'beautiful'” (Italian origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Bela?
Bela was the 5749th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 21 babies. Its best year was 1913, when it ranked 3239th; the most babies were born in 2010 (44). Over the last ten years it has moved up 1,585 places. More babies were named Bela in the 2000s than in any other decade.
Is Bela a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 95% girls, 5% boys given the name Bela in the US.
Where is Bela most popular?
In 2021–2025, Bela was most common in California (0.03 per 1,000 girls), followed by New York and Florida.