Rising since 2004, #4,758 for girls today.
Popularity of Belladonna since 2001
Babies named Belladonna per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2009, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Belladonna's real moment was 2021.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 114 |
| 2010s | 207 |
| 2020s | 142 |
Meaning & origin
Belladonna is a rare but striking modern name that entered U.S. birth records in 2001. Its popularity has been steadily rising since 2004, reaching a peak rank of 4,758 in 2025, with roughly 1 in 57,402 baby girls receiving the name. The name is derived from Italian 'bella donna' for 'beautiful lady,' originally the common name for the deadly nightshade plant Atropa belladonna, which has a long history of use in cosmetics. As a given name, Belladonna carries a gothic, botanical allure, making it a bold choice for parents seeking something distinctive.
Belladonna comes from Italian 'bella donna' meaning 'beautiful lady'. The name was first applied to the Atropa belladonna plant, a poisonous herb whose berries were used historically in cosmetics to dilate pupils, giving women a 'beautiful' appearance. As a given name, Belladonna is a modern innovation, first recorded in the United States in 2001, likely inspired by the plant's dramatic reputation or its phonetic beauty.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Bella, Donna, Bell
Sibling names for Belladonna
Names that share Belladonna's style, for a brother or sister.
