Find out how popular the first name Bella has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Bella by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Bella is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Bella being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 2,540 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Bella.

The history of the first name Bella

The name Bella is a feminine given name of Latin origin. It derives from the Italian word "bella," which means "beautiful" or "pretty." The name Bella can also be traced back to the Latin word "bellus," meaning "beautiful" or "handsome."

The name Bella has been used since ancient Roman times, and it was particularly popular among Italian families. In the Middle Ages, the name gained popularity across Europe, especially in Italy, France, and Spain. During the Renaissance period, the name was widely used by Italian artists and writers to describe beautiful women in their works.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Bella can be found in Dante Alighieri's famous literary work, "The Divine Comedy," written in the early 14th century. In the poem, Dante refers to his beloved Beatrice as "la bella donna" (the beautiful lady).

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Bella. One of the most famous was Bella Abzug (1920-1998), an American politician and feminist leader known for her advocacy for women's rights and social justice causes. Another notable Bella was Bella Davidovich (1928-2011), a renowned Russian-American pianist and music educator.

In the literary world, Bella Paton (1904-1976) was a Scottish novelist and playwright who wrote the popular novel "The Cleft Rock." Bella Akhmadulina (1937-2010) was a celebrated Russian poet who was part of the influential "Lianozovo school" of poets in the Soviet era.

In the world of art, Bella Rosenfeld (1900-1984) was a prominent American painter and sculptor known for her abstract expressionist works. Her contemporaries included artists like Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning.

These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Bella, a name that has endured for centuries and continues to hold a special charm and beauty.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Bella was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Bella, please contact us.

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