Given name & surname
Belle
“from the sacred wood”·“a woman famed for her beauty”
In English use, Belle has a related form in Bel. One Indian interpretation is “from the sacred wood.” Belle is a variant of Bella. One Italian interpretation is “a woman famed for her beauty.” Its derivation is not certain.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Belle has a related form in Bel. One Indian interpretation is “from the sacred wood.” Belle 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, Belle has a related form in Bel. An origin associated with Bel is Indian. Belle is a variant of Bella. A possible origin is Italian, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English use, Belle is used as a variant of Bella.
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
Belle through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 19,227
- 0 boys · 19,227 girls
- Most popular year
- 1915
- 407 babies
- 2025
- 247
- #1,013 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −16%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 247 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,013 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 15.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 407 in 1915. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (40). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 6,261 as a first name in 2020; 3,918 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.
Belle’s family of names
In English usage, Belle is a diminutive of Isabelle. In French usage, Belle shares a linguistic root with the English form Belinda. Belle has a related form in Bella.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Belle has relatives in 4 languages.
10 related names in 4 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 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 3
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Belle
- Belle StarrAmerican outlaw1848–1889
- Belle BoydAmerican Confederate spy (1844–1900)
- Belle BennettAmerican film actress (1891–1932)
- Belle WhiteBritish diver (1894–1972)
- Belle da Costa GreeneAmerican librarian (1883-1950)
- Belle Mitchellactress (1889-1979)
- Belle BrockhoffAustralian snowboarderborn 1993
- Belle GibsonAustralian blogger, app publisher and alternative health advocate who falsely claimed donations to charity and to have terminal brain cancerborn 1991
- Belle AdairAmerican actress and singer1889–1971
Characters named Belle: Belle (fictional character and protagonist/heroine of Disney's 1991 animated feature "Beauty and the Beast").
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Belle, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Nelle
“the shining light” · “the son of Neil; the son of a champion”
>99% girls
Mollie
>99% girls
Bernice
“one who brings victory”
>99% girls
Bertha
“one who is famously bright and beautiful”
>99% girls
Bethel
“of the house of God” · “the house of God”
4% boys · 96% girls
Elvie
“a friend of the elves” · “an elf warrior”
>99% girls
Era
Era is a feminine given name. It is used in Albanian.
4% boys · 96% girls
Etta
“ruler of the house”
>99% girls