Bell
Meaningbell · English
- US rank
- #10,917
- Syllables
- 1
- Peak
- #275 in 1884
8 babies were named Bell in the US in 2025. It has climbed 1,225 places in five years.
Nicknames & spellings
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US births per million girls, 1880–2025
US births per million boys, 1905–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Bell you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 200,000 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Bell, 8 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Bell would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryBell has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Bells, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1884, when it ranked #275. Today it's #10,917, so it could be due a comeback.
- TrendBell has climbed 1,225 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #10,917. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- MeaningIn English, Bell means “bell”. Our records link it to French and Slavic roots.
About the name Bell
Bell is a girl name of French and Slavic origin meaning “bell”. It has 4 letters and 1 syllable, starting with B and ending in “-ell”. US birth records list Bell for girls from 1880 to 2025, in 99 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1884, when it ranked #275 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #10,917, with 8 babies.
Origin:French namesSlavic names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 321 | 3,117 girls |
| 1890s | 233 | 4,289 girls |
| 1900s | 147 | 6,818 girls |
| 1910s | 65 | 15,363 girls |
| 1920s | 24 | 41,459 girls |
| 1930s | 12 | 85,837 girls |
| 1940s | 6.1 | 163,666 girls |
| 1950s | 2.4 | 420,168 girls |
| 1960s | 0.9 | 1,052,632 girls |
| 1970s | 0.7 | 1,470,588 girls |
| 2000s | 1.1 | 934,579 girls |
| 2010s | 3.6 | 274,725 girls |
| 2020s | 4.4 | 225,564 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 19 | 52,854 boys |
| 1910s | 5.5 | 183,150 boys |
| 1920s | 4.5 | 219,780 boys |
| 1930s | 1.0 | 1,041,667 boys |
| 1960s | 0.2 | 4,166,667 boys |
| 1990s | 1.3 | 800,000 boys |
More French girl names
- Girl name: Charlotte · free
- Girl name: Evelyn · possibly desired
- Girl name: Violet · violet flower
- Girl name: Camila · temple attendant
- Girl name: Ellie · possibly light
- Girl name: Lainey · possibly light
- Unisex name: Avery · elf counsel
- Girl name: Eloise · possibly healthy, wide
Questions about the name Bell
What does the name Bell mean?
Bell means “bell” in English.
What is the origin of the name Bell?
Bell has French, Slavic roots in our records. Other French names include Charlotte, Evelyn, Violet.
Is Bell a boy or girl name?
Bell is a girl name.
How popular is the name Bell?
Bell ranked #10,917 for US girls in 2025, given to 8 babies. Its best year was 1884 (#275).