Bela Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: BAY-lah //ˈbeɪ.lə//
Origin: Hungarian; Hebrew
Meaning: Hungarian: 'white'; Hebrew: 'devoted to God'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Bela has its roots in Hebrew, derived from the word 'bela', which means 'to swallow' or 'to devour'. This etymology traces back to the Old Testament, where Bela is mentioned as a son of Benjamin in the Book of Genesis, specifically in Genesis 46:21.
The name has been carried through various languages and cultures, transitioning into Greek and Latin forms before being adopted into English. In the Latin Vulgate, the name appears as 'Bela', maintaining its original Hebrew form, which facilitated its entry into English during the medieval period, particularly through biblical translations and religious texts.
Historically, the name Bela has been associated with notable figures in biblical history, particularly as a name of significance within Jewish tradition. The mention of Bela in the genealogies of the tribes of Israel underscores its importance in the context of biblical narratives.
Additionally, the name has been borne by various saints and historical figures throughout the centuries, contributing to its enduring presence in religious and cultural contexts. The use of the name in various translations of the Bible, including the King James Version in the early 17th century, further solidified its recognition in English-speaking cultures.
Culturally, Bela carries connotations of strength and resilience, often associated with the biblical lineage of the tribe of Benjamin. The name has also been linked to themes of protection and survival, reflecting the historical narratives surrounding its biblical namesake.
In some cultures, diminutive forms such as Belle or Bella have emerged, though these are more modern adaptations. Overall, Bela remains a name steeped in rich historical and cultural significance, reflecting its biblical origins and the enduring legacy of its early bearers.
Famous people named Bela
In this section, you will find notable people named Bela. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Bela who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Bela who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Bela Bartok was a composer and ethnomusicologist best known for Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta, Concerto for Orchestra, and Mikrokosmos.
Bela Lugosi was an actor best known for Dracula, White Zombie, and The Black Cat.
Bela Karolyi is a gymnastics coach best known for coaching the U.S. women's gymnastics team and his work with Nadia Comaneci.
Fictional characters named Bela
The following list of fictional characters named Bela is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Bela is a fictional character from the video game series Resident Evil. She is a key antagonist in Resident Evil Village, serving as one of the three daughters of Lady Dimitrescu.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Bela, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Bela. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Bela was first seen in the United States in 1912.
Bela has ranked as high as #5807 nationally, which occurred in 2008, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Bela has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Bela is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Bela was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Bela.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | 0 | 21 |
| 2024 | 30 | 0 | 30 |
| 2023 | 37 | 0 | 37 |
| 2022 | 38 | 8 | 30 |
| 2021 | 31 | 0 | 31 |
| 2020 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| 2019 | 27 | 0 | 27 |
| 2018 | 21 | 5 | 16 |
| 2017 | 28 | 6 | 22 |
| 2016 | 31 | 6 | 25 |
| 2015 | 23 | 7 | 16 |
| 2014 | 44 | 6 | 38 |
| 2013 | 28 | 0 | 28 |
| 2012 | 41 | 0 | 41 |
| 2011 | 34 | 0 | 34 |
| 2010 | 44 | 0 | 44 |
| 2009 | 30 | 0 | 30 |
| 2008 | 49 | 6 | 43 |
| 2007 | 45 | 11 | 34 |
| 2006 | 39 | 5 | 34 |
| 2005 | 38 | 12 | 26 |
| 2004 | 36 | 13 | 23 |
| 2003 | 28 | 7 | 21 |
| 2002 | 25 | 10 | 15 |
| 2001 | 21 | 5 | 16 |
| 2000 | 25 | 9 | 16 |
| 1999 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1998 | 16 | 5 | 11 |
| 1997 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1996 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1995 | 11 | 6 | 5 |
| 1993 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1992 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1989 | 11 | 5 | 6 |
| 1985 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1983 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1980 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1979 | 11 | 5 | 6 |
| 1974 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 1973 | 14 | 8 | 6 |
| 1972 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1970 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1967 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1966 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1965 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1964 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1963 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1962 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1961 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1960 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1959 | 10 | 10 | 0 |
| 1958 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1957 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1955 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1953 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1952 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1947 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1946 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1943 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1934 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1932 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1929 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1928 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1927 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1926 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1925 | 12 | 12 | 0 |
| 1924 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1923 | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| 1922 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| 1921 | 12 | 6 | 6 |
| 1920 | 10 | 5 | 5 |
| 1919 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1918 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1917 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| 1916 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1915 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| 1914 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1913 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1912 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Top States for Bela (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 7 | |
| TX | 5 |