Girl · 993rd of 30,306
Belle
Meaning, origin and U.S. popularity at a glance
18,976
Total Births
145
Years of Data
1915
Peak Popularity Year
407
Peak Births
Generational story
Where Belle stands across generations
Rankings for U.S. births from 2013 to 2024.
Based on the most recent three-year movement in the national data.
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Meaning, origin & U.S. popularity
Summary
The name Belle has French origins, meaning 'beautiful'. It evolved from the Latin 'Bella' through Old French to modern usage. It is often associated with elegance and has connections to popular culture, especially in fairy tales. There is no biblical relevance associated with this name.
Etymology & cultural background Open the full meaning, origin, history, and variants
Etymology & Cultural Background
Pronunciation
/bɛl/
Origin
French
Etymology
The name Belle is derived from the French word 'belle', which means 'beautiful'. It has been used as both a given name and a term of endearment.
Meaning
beautiful
Language Evolution
Latin: Bella, Old French: Belle, Modern French: Belle
Historical Usage
The name Belle gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly due to its romantic connotations and usage in literature and fairy tales.
Variants & Derivatives
Bella, Bel, Bell
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Belle is often associated with elegance and beauty, largely due to its use in popular culture, including Disney's character Belle from 'Beauty and the Beast'.
Famous People
Belle Barthel, Belle Knox, Belle Gibson
Trend Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
3-Year Trend:
Stable
25-Year Trend:
Relatively Stable
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Key Insights
Popularity Trend
Less Common name with 407 peak births in 1915
Geographic Spread
Popular across 40 US states, with strongest presence in New York
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 7 different American generations with varying popularity
Alternative spellings & similar sounds
Compare 3 names that share a similar pronunciation but use different spellings.
Historical Birth Statistics
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History
Full popularity table across American generations 7 generation and gender records
Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Recorded births |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 358th of 9107 | 6,062 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1006th of 9204 | 965 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1677th of 12526 | 748 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 3600th of 19264 | 284 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 4649th of 27321 | 307 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1660th of 35406 | 1,943 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 993rd of 30306 | 3,216 |