Belle

An uncommon French pick — distinctive and rare.

Girl's nameFrenchDeclining slightly Also a pet name
#1005 7in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A female given name from French.

Belle is a girl's baby name of French origin, from the French belle meaning "beautiful" — one of the most direct and universally understood name meanings in any language. It has been used across France and the English-speaking world since the 18th century.

Belle carries the fairy-tale warmth of Disney's bookish, independent princess from Beauty and the Beast, giving it a literary, romantic quality that resonates deeply. With nearly 19,000 U.S. births recorded, it has returned strongly as parents rediscover its simple, perfect combination of brevity and beauty.

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Popularity Over Time

Belle climbed 410 spots in the last 20 years — from #1415 to #1005.

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Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Belle
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s1,273
2010s2,405
2000s1,295
1990s392
1980s112
1970s171
1960s261
1950s398
1940s429
1930s538
1920s1,545
1910s2,901
1900s2,096
1890s2,512
1880s2,648

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(145 years, 18802024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Belle
YearBirthsRank
2024254#1005
2023250#1012
2022274#970
2021240#1051
2020255#1000
2019307#873
2018312#870
2017339#806
2016293#935
2015251#1050
2014251#1033
2013190#1255
2012163#1408
2011144#1527
2010155#1457
2009135#1649
2008170#1396
2007143#1581
2006146#1506
2005152#1406

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

Belle has two lives

Belle, the baby name
#1005girls
18,976 babies
Currently viewing
Belle, the pet name
#153pet name
700 pets
View pet page →

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