Belle
Meaningbeautiful · French
- US rank
- #1,013
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #90 in 1880
247 babies were named Belle in the US in 2025. It has dropped 13 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1880–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Belle you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 6,506 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Belle, 247 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Belle would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryBelle has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Belles, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1880, when it ranked #90. Today it's #1,013, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowBelle is 3.8× more common today than it was in 2000. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 24,570 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 6,506.
- Where it's lovedBelle is most popular in Utah, where it ranks #605, followed by Minnesota (#659) and Pennsylvania (#689). It's in the top 1,000 in 13 states.
- MeaningIn French, Belle means “beautiful”. Our records link it to French and Spanish roots.
About the name Belle
Belle is a girl name of French and Spanish origin meaning “beautiful”. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with B and ending in “-lle”. US birth records list Belle for girls from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1880, when it ranked #90 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #1,013, with 247 babies.
Origin:French namesSpanish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 2,090 | 478 girls |
| 1890s | 1,147 | 872 girls |
| 1900s | 725 | 1,379 girls |
| 1910s | 388 | 2,574 girls |
| 1920s | 129 | 7,777 girls |
| 1930s | 50 | 19,849 girls |
| 1940s | 30 | 33,613 girls |
| 1950s | 21 | 47,962 girls |
| 1960s | 14 | 70,872 girls |
| 1970s | 11 | 90,498 girls |
| 1980s | 6.6 | 152,207 girls |
| 1990s | 22 | 45,310 girls |
| 2000s | 70 | 14,282 girls |
| 2010s | 138 | 7,251 girls |
| 2020s | 156 | 6,392 girls |
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 Belle
What does the name Belle mean?
Belle means “beautiful” in French.
What is the origin of the name Belle?
Belle has French, Spanish roots in our records. Other French names include Charlotte, Evelyn, Violet.
Is Belle a boy or girl name?
Belle is a girl name.
How popular is the name Belle?
Belle ranked #1,013 for US girls in 2025, given to 247 babies. Its best year was 1880 (#90).