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Home › Baby Names Directory › Bela

Bela

♀ Girl

Pronounced BEH-lah /ˈbɛ.lɑ/Medium

Meaning: From Italian/Latin bella, 'beautiful', and/or Slavic bela, 'white'; routes layeredMedium

In 30 seconds: Beautiful and soft: Bela means 'beautiful' (Italian) or 'white' (Slavic). Sweet, simple, and warm.
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Origin MediumLatin, Slavic
MeaningFrom Italian/Latin bella, 'beautiful', and/or Slavic bela, 'white'; routes layered
U.S. rank (2024)#4561 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births30 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2010
Total births (all-time)≈ 788

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201019132024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Bela comes from Italian/Latin bella, 'beautiful' (a single-l spelling), and overlaps Slavic bela, 'white' (routes layered, which we note). A sweet, soft name; for girls here (Béla is a separate Hungarian boys' name).

It registers thinly in records. Rare, beautiful-or-white at the root, and sweet.

Did you know? Bela means 'beautiful' (a single-l form of Bella, Italian) — and 'white' in Slavic languages; a sweet, simple name (note Béla is a Hungarian boys' name).
Overall data confidence 70%
References — Bela / Bella — routes layered

Variations

BellaBelahBella

Nicknames

Bee

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Bela…

Bella— the double-l form
Belle— the French 'beautiful' name
Mila— a companion soft Slavic name
Lola— shares Bela's Latin roots
Milla— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Bela

By themeuncertainlatinslavic
By meaningBeauty

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Bela mean?

Bela is Italian 'beautiful' (a form of Bella) and Slavic 'white'; the routes are layered.

How do you pronounce Bela?

It's said BEH-lah /ˈbɛ.lɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Bela a boy or girl name?

Bela is a girl's name here (Béla is a separate Hungarian boys' name).

How popular is Bela?

Bela is a rare name in the U.S.

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