Belle
Short form of Isabelle or French
“beautiful”
Mostly boys · Hebrew
“Yahweh is God”
Say it ih-LY-juhPronunciation may vary by region.
A little maybe, saved for later.
The story behind the name
The Top 10 boys' name Elijah is derived from the Hebrew name Eliyahu, composed of the elements ’el and yah, both of which refer to God. In the Old Testament, Elijah was the prophet who went to heaven in a chariot of fire, a story sure to inspire any young Elijah.
Among other celebrities who have chosen Elijah for their boys are Donnie Wahlberg, James Spader, Tracy Nelson, Wynonna Judd and Bono (who followed it with middle names Bob Patricus Guggi G.).
Elijah figures in the Jewish, Christian and Muslim religions. There are numerous songs containing the name, and Elijah is also a character in many films and books—including Charles Dickens's Martin Chuzzlewit.
A little perspective
Recorded US births over time
| Year | Category | US rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 7 | 11,111 |
| 2025 | Girls | 7,226 | 15 |
| 2024 | Boys | 8 | 11,238 |
| 2024 | Girls | 5,056 | 26 |
| 2023 | Boys | 5 | 11,523 |
| 2023 | Girls | 6,025 | 20 |
| 2022 | Boys | 5 | 12,094 |
| 2022 | Girls | 4,401 | 32 |
| 2021 | Boys | 4 | 12,845 |
| 2021 | Girls | 4,755 | 28 |
| 2020 | Boys | 4 | 13,238 |
| 2020 | Girls | 4,380 | 31 |
| 2019 | Boys | 5 | 13,436 |
| 2019 | Girls | 5,848 | 21 |
| 2018 | Boys | 7 | 13,020 |
| 2018 | Girls | 4,260 | 33 |
| 2017 | Boys | 8 | 13,449 |
| 2017 | Girls | 4,842 | 28 |
| 2016 | Boys | 9 | 13,982 |
| 2016 | Girls | 5,037 | 27 |
| 2015 | Boys | 11 | 13,710 |
| 2015 | Girls | 4,894 | 28 |
| 2014 | Boys | 11 | 13,886 |
| 2014 | Girls | 4,295 | 34 |
Rankings are calculated separately for boys and girls. Records below the publication threshold may be missing; gaps are not zero births.
No nicknames are listed yet. The name can stand beautifully on its own.
Keep the possibilities coming
More names with a similar feeling or shared roots.
Short form of Isabelle or French
“beautiful”
Place-name from Dutch
“marshland”
Hebrew
“dog; whole heart”
English, diminutive of Charles, French from Ger…
“free man”
Greek variation of Elijah, Hebrew
“Yahweh is God”
Hebrew
“strong, firm”