Bella
Bella is a girls' name of Italian origin meaning “beautiful.” It ranked #136 in the United States in 2025. An Italian and Latin diminutive meaning beautiful, also used as a short form of Isabella.
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how do you pronounce Bella?
BEL-ah
where does the name Bella come from?
From the Italian bella, meaning beautiful, though in practice it functions at least as often as a short form of Isabella, Annabella or Arabella. Both routes are live, and most modern bearers are using it as a name in its own right.
The name's popularity surged dramatically following the Twilight saga, in which Bella Swan is the protagonist. It is now one of the most widely used names across Europe and the Americas.
how popular is this name?
Bella has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 78 years since 1880, and fell outside it for 68. It peaked at #48 in 2010, and ranked #136 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #136 |
| 2024 | #109 |
| 2023 | #104 |
| 2022 | #85 |
| 2021 | #73 |
| 2020 | #63 |
| 2019 | #50 |
| 2018 | #48 |
| 2017 | #50 |
| 2016 | #78 |
| 2010 | #48 |
| 2000 | #749 |
| 1930 | #909 |
| 1920 | #504 |
| 1910 | #466 |
| 1900 | #388 |
| 1890 | #384 |
| 1880 | #466 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Bella fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Bella
Bella Abzug, the New York congresswoman known for her hats and her advocacy, gave the name a forceful mid-century bearer. Its recent surge is almost entirely attributable to the Twilight novels from 2005, whose narrator Bella Swan carried both the short form and the full Isabella into the top ranks simultaneously.
who are famous people named Bella?
- Bella Hadid (model)
- Bella Thorne (actress)
- Bella Swan (Twilight character)
what are the nicknames and variants of Bella?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Bella?
what names go well with Bella?
Sibling names that share Bella's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Bella
What does the name Bella mean?
Bella means “beautiful”.
What is the origin of the name Bella?
Bella comes from the Italian naming tradition. Related forms include Belle, Bela and Isabella.
How popular is the name Bella?
Bella ranked #136 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2010, at #48, and it has spent 78 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Bella a boy or girl name?
Bella is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Bella?
Bella is pronounced BEL-ah, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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