Given name
Belva
“a woman famed for her beauty”
Belva 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
Belva 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
Belva 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 1881. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Belva through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 7,960
- 0 boys · 7,960 girls
- Most popular year
- 1927
- 184 babies
- 2025
- 5
- #15,304 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 5 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 15,304 among girls’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. Its largest published annual count for girls was 184 in 1927. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,595 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Similar names
If you love Belva, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Berta
“noble and bright” · “one who is famously bright and beautiful”
>99% girls
Belia
“a woman famed for her beauty”
>99% girls
Bertie
“one who is noble and bright” · “one who is illustrious”
>99% girls
Bernadine
“one who has bearlike strength and courage” · “as strong and brave as a bear”
>99% girls
Beverlee
“from the beaver's stream”
>99% girls
Bernardine
“one who has bearlike strength and courage”
>99% girls
Bernetta
“one who has bearlike strength and courage”
>99% girls
Elva
“a friend of the elves”
>99% girls