Given name & surname
Bell
“from the sacred wood”·“a handsome friend”·“a woman famed for her beauty”
In English use, Bell has a related form in Bel. One Indian interpretation is “from the sacred wood.” Bell is a variant of Bellamy. One French interpretation is “a handsome friend.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Bell has a related form in Bel. One Indian interpretation is “from the sacred wood.” Bell is a variant of Bellamy. One French interpretation is “a handsome friend.” Bell is a variant of Bella. One Italian interpretation is “a woman famed for her beauty.” Its derivation is not certain.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Bell has a related form in Bel. An origin associated with Bel is Indian. Bell is a variant of Bellamy. An origin associated with Bellamy is French. Bell is a variant of Bella. A possible origin is Italian, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Bell through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,626
- 130 boys · 2,496 girls
- Most popular year
- 1900
- 63 babies
- 2025
- 8
- #11,097 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +16%
- Rising
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 8 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 11,097 among girls’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. Its largest published annual count for girls was 63 in 1900. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,082 as a first name in 2020; 267,025 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Bell’s family of names
In English usage, Bell is a diminutive of Isabella. Bell has a related form in Bella. In English usage, Bell has a related form in Belle.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Bell has relatives in 3 languages.
6 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Bell
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Bell, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Mellie
“a dark-skinned beauty” · “one who is sweet and gentle”
>99% girls
Mabelle
“one who is lovable”
>99% girls
Meta
Meta is used as a given name and a surname. Meta is connected with Margaret.
>99% girls
Lulu
“a calm, peaceful woman” · “as precious as a pearl”
>99% girls
Bess
“my God is bountiful” · “God is my oath”
>99% girls
Kittie
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls
Myrtle
“of the sacred evergreen shrub”
>99% girls
Bethel
“of the house of God” · “the house of God”
4% boys · 96% girls