Bell

Once popular, gently fading from the charts.

Girl's name| Also boysDeclining Also a pet name
#13685 1335in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A surname of Scottish and northern English origin for a bell ringer, bellmaker, or from someone who lived "at the Bell (inn)."

Bell is a girl's and boy's baby name of Old English and French origin, derived from the Old French belle meaning 'beautiful' or as a surname from bell-related occupations. As a given name, it carries both the musical clarity of a bell's ring and the French sense of beauty.

Simple and resonant, Bell is a name that lands clean and clear — one syllable, ringing out with effortless charm.

Compare Bell with another name

Popularity Over Time

Bell has 98+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1880.

01632476318801900192019401960198020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Bell
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s35
2010s64
2000s20
1970s11
1960s18
1950s46
1940s84
1930s125
1920s290
1910s450
1900s418
1890s511
1880s416

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(98 years, 18802024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Bell
YearBirthsRank
20246#13685
20237#12350
20228#11373
20217#12406
20207#12345
201814#7814
201710#10074
20157#13211
20149#11120
20135#16954
20125#17295
20116#15124
20108#12451
20098#12614
20085#17942
20067#13800
19735#8535
19706#7131
19675#6888
19617#5340

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Bell as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Bell has also been given to 130 boys in the U.S. since 1905.

Unranked
Current rank
130
Total births
1915
Peak year
Compare Bell as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Bell be used for both boys and girls?
Yes, Bell is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #13685. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Bell has two lives

Bell, the baby name
#13685girls
2,488 babies
Currently viewing
Bell, the pet name
#2138pet name
45 pets
View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (18802024) · Methodology