A 1880s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Belle since 1880
Babies named Belle per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1915, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Belle's real moment was 1880.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 2,648 |
| 1890s | 2,512 |
| 1900s | 2,096 |
| 1910s | 2,901 |
| 1920s | 1,545 |
| 1930s | 538 |
| 1940s | 429 |
| 1950s | 398 |
| 1960s | 261 |
| 1970s | 171 |
| 1980s | 112 |
| 1990s | 392 |
| 2000s | 1,297 |
| 2010s | 2,405 |
| 2020s | 1,522 |
Meaning & origin
Belle entered the U.S. top 1000 in 1880, the earliest year of Social Security data, ranking as high as 1013th. Its lowest point came before a revival; since 1987, it has been rising in popularity. In 2025, 1 in 6,507 girls received the name, making it a rare but familiar choice. Top states for Belle include Utah, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania, suggesting a broad but not clustered appeal. As the French word for 'beautiful,' it carries a simple elegance that has endured through literature and film.
Belle is the French word for 'beautiful,' derived from the Latin 'bella' (feminine form of 'bellus'). It entered English as a given name in the 19th century, often used as a short form of names like Isabella or Arabella, but also independently. The name gained popularity through literature, such as the heroine Belle in Beauty and the Beast (first published 1740 in French).
Where Belle is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Belle” around the world
Where Belle lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Ireland
12
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Bel
Sibling names for Belle
Names that share Belle's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Rose, Claire, Grace, Marie, Chloe, Aimee, Cherie, Evette, Jolie, Chere, Jadore, Lady, Adore, Amour, Cinderella, Mell, Bijou, Cachet, Caresse, Duchess, Rubby, Adoree, Amoree, Charl, Disney, Francy, Jetaime, Pretty, Rubylee
Brothers: Beau, Jack, James, Charles, Luke, Dell, Beaux, Croix, Loney, Yeng, Clete, Dace, Mak, Tell, Bowe, Key, Berlie, Leng, Lott, Marvon, Phat, Tellis
