Bella
Bella was the 136th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 2,129 babies. Its best year was 2010, when it ranked 48th with 5,136 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 62 places. More babies were named Bella in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Meaning pet form of Isabella; 'beautiful' · Italian
Say it BEL-uh /ˈbɛlə/
- Rank in 2025
- #136 girls, down 73 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 2,129girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 20105,136 babies
- Total since 1880
- 83,766babies recorded
What does the name Bella mean?
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
Bella popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 45 since 2008.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #136 | 2,129 |
| 2020 | #63 | 3,649 |
| 2010 | #48 | 5,136 |
| 2000 | #749 | 307 |
| 1990 | #3,723 | 28 |
| 1980 | #4,341 | 17 |
| 1970 | #2,358 | 32 |
| 1960 | #2,104 | 30 |
| 1950 | #2,126 | 21 |
| 1940 | #1,851 | 19 |
| 1930 | #909 | 64 |
| 1920 | #506 | 188 |
| 1910 | #467 | 73 |
| 1900 | #389 | 73 |
| 1890 | #385 | 42 |
| 1880 | #469 | 13 |
How popular is Bella, counting every spelling?
Bella is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #159 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #136 for Bella 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 Bella?
2,129 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Bella (0.59 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Bella 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 4 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Bella.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Bella?
About 78,500 people born in the US named Bella are alive today, with a median age of 12; half are between 7 and 16. That makes Bella a young name: most people with it are children.
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.
Bella by state
How common Bella was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Hawaii (2.6×), Nevada (2.2×), New Mexico (1.9×), Delaware (1.9×), Florida (1.7×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in North Dakota, Montana, Vermont.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Bella: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Bella, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Bella · Sibling names for Bella
Bella is also a nickname for Isabella, Isabelle, Arabella and Annabelle.
Questions about the name Bella
What does Bella mean?
Bella means “pet form of Isabella; 'beautiful'” (Italian origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Bella?
Bella was the 136th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 2,129 babies. Its best year was 2010, when it ranked 48th with 5,136 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 62 places. More babies were named Bella in the 2010s than in any other decade.
Is Bella a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Bella in the US.
Where is Bella most popular?
In 2021–2025, Bella was most common in Hawaii (4.28 per 1,000 girls), followed by Nevada and New Mexico.