Bella

♀ Girl

Pronounced BEL-uh /ˈbɛl.ə/High

Meaning: Beautiful; lovely — from Italian bella, feminine of bello, from Latin bellus (beautiful, fair)High

In 30 seconds: The Italian and Latin word for 'beautiful,' Bella has been one of the fastest-rising names of the 21st century, boosted by the Twilight saga's Bella Swan and its universal meaning.

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Origin HighItalian, Latin

MeaningBeautiful; lovely — from Italian bella, feminine of bello, from Latin bellus (beautiful, fair)

U.S. rank (2025)#136 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births2,129 girls (0.13% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2010

Total births (all-time)≈ 83,666

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Bella is the Italian and Latin word and name meaning 'beautiful,' from Latin bellus. It is also a short form of Isabella, Arabella, and other -bella names. It has been used as a standalone name in Italian and English-speaking cultures.

Bella was already rising before the Twilight series, but Stephenie Meyer's franchise dramatically accelerated its climb. It entered the U.S. top 100 girls' names in the late 2000s and has remained there.

Did you know? The Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer, which began in 2005, features protagonist Bella Swan — a major driver of the name's dramatic U.S. surge in the late 2000s.

Variations

IsabellaArabellaBelleBelinda

Nicknames

BellBel

Famous Bearers

★Bella Hadid (1996-)
American fashion model
★Bella Thorne (1997-)
American actress and singer
★Bella Ramsey (2003-)
English actor known for The Last of Us and Game of Thrones
★Bella Poarch (1997-)
Filipino-American social media personality and singer

If you like Bella…

Stella— Italian/Latin word name meaning star with the same short luminous beauty

Luna— Italian/Latin moon name with the same celestial two-syllable grace

Nova— Latin astronomical concept name with the same bright modern Italian feel

Aurora— Latin goddess/dawn name with the same warm, vivid beauty

Explore names like Bella

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Bella mean?

Bella is the Italian and Latin word for 'beautiful,' from Latin bellus.

How do you pronounce Bella?

It is said BEL-uh /ˈbɛl.ə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Bella a boy or girl name?

Bella is used exclusively as a girl's name.

How popular is Bella?

Bella has been a top-100 U.S. girls' name since the late 2000s, boosted by the Twilight series.