Bell Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: bel //bɛl//
Origin: English; French
Meaning: English: beautiful; French: bell
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Bell has its roots in the Old French word "belle," meaning "beautiful," which itself derives from the Latin "bellus," also meaning "pretty" or "handsome." The transition into English occurred during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, when many Old French words entered the English lexicon. The name Bell can also be associated with the Middle English word "belle," which refers to a bell, an object that has held various symbolic meanings throughout history, including the call to worship and the marking of significant events.
Historically, the name Bell has been used as both a surname and a given name. It gained prominence in the 19th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as a diminutive or affectionate form of names such as Isabella or Annabelle.
The name's association with beauty and charm has made it a favored choice in literature and art, often symbolizing purity and grace. Notably, the name is linked to various historical figures, including Bell the Elder, a Scottish poet from the 18th century, and Bell the Younger, a notable figure in the 19th-century Scottish literary scene.
Culturally, the name Bell resonates with themes of beauty and elegance, often evoking imagery of bells ringing in celebration or marking important life events. The name has also been embraced in various forms of media, contributing to its enduring appeal.
In addition to its aesthetic qualities, the name Bell has been associated with various saints and religious figures, further embedding it within the cultural and spiritual fabric of society. Overall, the name Bell reflects a rich tapestry of linguistic evolution and cultural significance.
Famous people named Bell
In this section, you will find notable people named Bell. 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 Bell who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Bell 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.
Bell Hooks is an author and social activist best known for Ain't I a Woman?, All About Love, and Feminism is for Everybody.
Bell Biv DeVoe is a musical group best known for their hits Poison, Do Me!, and B.B.D. (I Thought It Was Me?).
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Bell, 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 Bell. 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 Bell was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Bell has ranked as high as #405 nationally, which occurred in 1900, and has been most popular in Georgia, South Carolina, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Tennessee.
In the past 5 years the name Bell has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Bell 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 Bell was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Bell (1926)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| MS | 7 |
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 Bell.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 6 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2022 | 8 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 1973 | 5 |
| 1970 | 6 |
| 1967 | 5 |
| 1961 | 7 |
| 1960 | 6 |
| 1959 | 7 |
| 1958 | 7 |
| 1956 | 8 |
| 1955 | 5 |
| 1954 | 5 |
| 1952 | 8 |
| 1951 | 6 |
| 1949 | 8 |
| 1948 | 5 |
| 1947 | 8 |
| 1946 | 6 |
| 1945 | 8 |
| 1944 | 5 |
| 1943 | 5 |
| 1942 | 14 |
| 1941 | 12 |
| 1940 | 13 |
| 1939 | 12 |
| 1938 | 15 |
| 1937 | 9 |
| 1936 | 16 |
| 1935 | 7 |
| 1934 | 15 |
| 1933 | 7 |
| 1932 | 12 |
| 1931 | 10 |
| 1930 | 22 |
| 1929 | 17 |
| 1928 | 20 |
| 1927 | 21 |
| 1926 | 28 |
| 1925 | 34 |
| 1924 | 33 |
| 1923 | 31 |
| 1922 | 28 |
| 1921 | 36 |
| 1920 | 42 |
| 1919 | 49 |
| 1918 | 50 |
| 1917 | 31 |
| 1916 | 47 |
| 1915 | 47 |
| 1914 | 35 |
| 1913 | 40 |
| 1912 | 58 |
| 1911 | 43 |
| 1910 | 50 |
| 1909 | 29 |
| 1908 | 31 |
| 1907 | 33 |
| 1906 | 40 |
| 1905 | 45 |
| 1904 | 34 |
| 1903 | 48 |
| 1902 | 43 |
| 1901 | 52 |
| 1900 | 63 |
| 1899 | 52 |
| 1898 | 58 |
| 1897 | 44 |
| 1896 | 51 |
| 1895 | 46 |
| 1894 | 43 |
| 1893 | 42 |
| 1892 | 59 |
| 1891 | 55 |
| 1890 | 61 |
| 1889 | 55 |
| 1888 | 45 |
| 1887 | 44 |
| 1886 | 46 |
| 1885 | 45 |
| 1884 | 50 |
| 1883 | 33 |
| 1882 | 38 |
| 1881 | 29 |
| 1880 | 31 |