Bella

Meaning & origin

Bella, meaning 'beautiful' in Italian and Spanish, has been a consistently popular girls' name in the United States since the late 19th century. It first appeared in Social Security records in 1880 and reached its peak ranking of 136th in 2010, with roughly 1 in 755 girls given the name in 2025. However, its popularity has been falling since 2018, reflecting a broader trend away from traditional top names. Geographically, Bella is most popular in New Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska, suggesting regional preferences for melodic, vowel-heavy names. Its enduring appeal likely stems from its sweet sound and positive meaning, as well as its use as a short form for Isabel and related names.

Bella originates as a short form of names ending in -bella, such as Isabella or Annabella, but has been used independently since the 18th century. Its meaning is directly derived from the Italian and Spanish word bella, meaning 'beautiful,' and it spread through Europe via literary and aristocratic usage. The name gained further prominence in English-speaking countries during the 19th century.