Belle Girl

Popularity: #703 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: BEL /bɛl/

Origin: French; Latin

Meaning: French: beautiful; Latin: war

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Belle originates from the French word "belle," meaning "beautiful." This term can be traced back to the Latin "bellus," which also conveys the idea of beauty and charm. The Latin term has roots in the Proto-Indo-European language, where it is linked to the word "*bhel-" meaning "to shine" or "to be beautiful." The transition into English occurred through the influence of Norman French after the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, which introduced many French words and names into the English language.

Historically, the name Belle has been associated with various cultural and literary figures. In the 19th century, it gained prominence through its use in literature and the arts, often symbolizing idealized beauty and grace.

The name is notably featured in the fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast," which was popularized in the 18th century by French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve and later adapted by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont. This tale, along with its various adaptations, has cemented the name's association with beauty and virtue.

Culturally, Belle has been embraced in various contexts, often representing feminine ideals in literature and art. The name has been used in songs, films, and other forms of media, reinforcing its connection to beauty and charm.

Additionally, diminutive forms such as Bella have emerged, further reflecting the name's enduring appeal. The name Belle encapsulates a rich linguistic heritage and has maintained its significance through centuries, symbolizing beauty in both literal and metaphorical senses.

Famous people named Belle

In this section, you will find notable people named Belle. 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 Belle who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Belle 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.

Belle Delphine is an internet personality and model best known for her social media presence, cosplay, and unique merchandise.

Fictional characters named Belle

The following list of fictional characters named Belle 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.

Belle is a fictional character from the animated film Beauty and the Beast. She is a young woman who finds herself in an enchanted castle with a cursed prince, ultimately seeing beyond his exterior to discover his true self.

Belle is a fictional character from the musical and stage adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. She is the intelligent and adventurous protagonist who dreams of a life beyond her provincial town.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Belle, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

EllaClaraLilaNoraLucyMia

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Belle. 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.

IsabelleAnnabelleGabrielleMirabelleSeleneAmabelArabellaDahlia

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Belle was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Belle has ranked as high as #527 nationally, which occurred in 1915, and has been most popular in New York, California, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Belle has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Belle 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 Belle 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 Belle.

Year Total Births Girl
2025 247 247
2024 255 255
2023 250 250
2022 274 274
2021 241 241
2020 255 255
2019 307 307
2018 312 312
2017 339 339
2016 293 293
2015 251 251
2014 251 251
2013 190 190
2012 163 163
2011 144 144
2010 155 155
2009 136 136
2008 170 170
2007 144 144
2006 146 146
2005 152 152
2004 147 147
2003 107 107
2002 113 113
2001 108 108
2000 74 74
1999 56 56
1998 68 68
1997 62 62
1996 55 55
1995 35 35
1994 41 41
1993 35 35
1992 19 19
1991 8 8
1990 13 13
1989 9 9
1988 6 6
1987 12 12
1986 6 6
1985 9 9
1984 13 13
1983 18 18
1982 15 15
1981 13 13
1980 11 11
1979 21 21
1978 14 14
1977 15 15
1976 12 12
1975 15 15
1974 21 21
1973 17 17
1972 18 18
1971 16 16
1970 22 22
1969 26 26
1968 18 18
1967 16 16
1966 18 18
1965 24 24
1964 33 33
1963 28 28
1962 30 30
1961 33 33
1960 35 35
1959 33 33
1958 39 39
1957 41 41
1956 30 30
1955 30 30
1954 43 43
1953 48 48
1952 45 45
1951 50 50
1950 39 39
1949 56 56
1948 47 47
1947 46 46
1946 42 42
1945 40 40
1944 25 25
1943 51 51
1942 45 45
1941 45 45
1940 32 32
1939 42 42
1938 44 44
1937 46 46
1936 42 42
1935 47 47
1934 50 50
1933 55 55
1932 68 68
1931 62 62
1930 82 82
1929 96 96
1928 93 93
1927 120 120
1926 116 116
1925 140 140
1924 162 162
1923 177 177
1922 187 187
1921 219 219
1920 235 235
1919 252 252
1918 285 285
1917 314 314
1916 334 334
1915 407 407
1914 353 353
1913 273 273
1912 279 279
1911 211 211
1910 193 193
1909 201 201
1908 187 187
1907 196 196
1906 191 191
1905 205 205
1904 205 205
1903 200 200
1902 212 212
1901 208 208
1900 291 291
1899 180 180
1898 257 257
1897 212 212
1896 238 238
1895 283 283
1894 249 249
1893 284 284
1892 265 265
1891 240 240
1890 304 304
1889 265 265
1888 317 317
1887 272 272
1886 270 270
1885 255 255
1884 286 286
1883 262 262
1882 264 264
1881 219 219
1880 238 238

Top States for Belle (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 34
17%
TX 23
11%
FL 14
7%
NY 14
7%
IL 12
6%
MI 12
6%
UT 9
4%
CO 9
4%
WI 8
4%
AZ 7
3%
MN 7
3%
NJ 6
3%
GA 6
3%
MA 6
3%
PA 6
3%
TN 6
3%
NV 5
2%
IN 5
2%
OH 5
2%
SC 5
2%
NC 5
2%