Belle
Belle is a girl's name of French origin.
Meaning
Beautiful.
Origin and history
Belle is a French name derived from the word for beautiful. While historically used as a standalone name or a short form of Isabella and Annabelle, it gained renewed popularity following Disney's Beauty and the Beast. In the U.S., it remains a classic, recognizable name with a soft, vintage appeal.
Popularity in the United States
19,227 babies in the United States have been named Belle since 1880. It ranks #1092 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #949.
States where it is most popular
- NY (19.1 %)
- CA (12.9 %)
- TX (7.8 %)
- PA (6.4 %)
- IL (4.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 2,648 |
| 1890-1900 | 2,512 |
| 1900-1910 | 2,096 |
| 1910-1920 | 2,901 |
| 1920-1930 | 1,545 |
| 1930-1940 | 538 |
| 1940-1950 | 429 |
| 1950-1960 | 398 |
| 1960-1970 | 261 |
| 1970-1980 | 171 |
| 1980-1990 | 112 |
| 1990-2000 | 392 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,297 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,405 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,522 |
Famous people named Belle
- Belle Starr: Outlaw
Fun facts
- The name gained global cultural prominence as the heroine of the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast.
- It directly stems from the French adjective belle, which traces back to the Latin word bellus, meaning handsome or charming.