Mostly boys
Elijah
Hebrew
“Yahweh is God”
Mostly girls · Short form of Isabelle or French
Belle
“beautiful”
Say it BELPronunciation may vary by region.
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A little maybe, saved for later.
The story behind the name
Meet Belle.
Belle has nothing but positive associations, from "belle of the ball" to "Southern belle" to the heroine of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. As if this weren't enough good things, Belle is also one of the most familiar and usable names that mean beautiful. Though it has been overshadowed by the Twilight-influenced Bella and longer forms like Isabella and Annabella, Belle has its own Southern charm and would make a pretty choice as a first or middle name.
Read more about Belle and other Disney Princess Names in our featured blog.
5 lettersFrench origins ↗
A little perspective
How popular is Belle?
Girls · 2025#1,013247 recorded births
Recorded US births over time
● Girls● Boys
View the numbers behind the chart
| Year | Category | US rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 1,013 | 247 |
| 2024 | Girls | 1,005 | 255 |
| 2023 | Girls | 1,012 | 250 |
| 2022 | Girls | 971 | 274 |
| 2021 | Girls | 1,046 | 241 |
| 2020 | Girls | 1,000 | 255 |
| 2019 | Girls | 874 | 307 |
| 2018 | Girls | 870 | 312 |
| 2017 | Girls | 806 | 339 |
| 2016 | Girls | 936 | 293 |
| 2015 | Girls | 1,050 | 251 |
| 2014 | Girls | 1,033 | 251 |
Rankings are calculated separately for boys and girls. Records below the publication threshold may be missing; gaps are not zero births.
A few ways to make it theirs.
Nicknames
No nicknames are listed yet. The name can stand beautifully on its own.
Variations & related forms
BelBelaBeliaBelindaBelisseBellBellina
Keep the possibilities coming
If you love Belle…
More names with a similar feeling or shared roots.