Rising since 2008, #4,661 for girls today.
Popularity of Bellatrix since 2008
Babies named Bellatrix per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 17 |
| 2010s | 154 |
| 2020s | 184 |
Meaning & origin
Bellatrix first appeared on the U.S. baby-name landscape in 2008, the same year the film Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix hit theaters, introducing millions to the dark witch Bellatrix Lestrange. From a debut rank well outside the top 10,000, the name has climbed steadily, reaching rank 4661 by 2025. Its trajectory shows consistent growth over nearly two decades, with its peak year in 2024, reflecting the lasting pull of literary fandom combined with the rising preference for celestial names. The name's 1-in-55423 rarity still keeps it distinctive, far from common use. Its top state is Texas, where fanciful feminine names often find early footholds. As a star name meaning 'female warrior', Bellatrix captures both astronomical majesty and feminist strength, though its strong fictional association remains the primary driver of its modern use.
Bellatrix is the name of a bright star in the constellation Orion, from Latin bellator 'warrior' (feminine bellatrix), literally 'female warrior'. The star name was traditional in astronomy. Its use as a given name is modern, popularized by the character Bellatrix Lestrange in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series (first appeared in 2003). The name entered U.S. birth records in 2008, coinciding with the film adaptations.
Where Bellatrix is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Bella, Trixie
Sibling names for Bellatrix
Names that share Bellatrix's style, for a brother or sister.
