Belmira
Beautiful, bright lady of wondrous appearance from the Spanish/Portuguese.
Name Census estimates that about 1 living Americans carry the first name Belmira. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Belmira today is around 115 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Belmira births was 1919 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Belmira. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Belmira is about 115 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Belmiras were born before 1921.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Belmira. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
1
~ 1 in 342,754,338 Americans
Peak year
1919
8 babies that year
Average age
115
years old
1929 SSA rank
#4,627
Tracked since 1880
Origin
Meaning and history of Belmira
The name Belmira finds its roots in the Portuguese language, originating during the medieval period. It is derived from the combination of two words: "bela," meaning beautiful, and "mira," meaning to gaze or look upon. Thus, Belmira can be interpreted as "beautiful to behold" or "one who is gazed upon in admiration for her beauty."
Historically, the name Belmira gained prominence in Portugal, where it was favored among the nobility and upper classes. Its earliest recorded usage dates back to the 13th century, during the reign of the Portuguese King Afonso III. It is believed that the name was initially bestowed upon women of exceptional beauty, reflecting the cultural ideals of the time.
One of the earliest known references to the name Belmira can be found in the works of the renowned Portuguese poet and writer, Luís de Camões. In his epic poem, "Os Lusíadas," published in 1572, Camões mentions a character named Belmira, described as a woman of great beauty and virtue.
Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Belmira. One of the earliest recorded instances is Belmira Ribeiro (1516-1592), a Portuguese noblewoman and philanthropist, known for her charitable works and support for the arts and literature during the Renaissance period.
Another prominent figure was Belmira Andrade (1836-1905), a Brazilian writer and abolitionist. She was a vocal advocate for the abolition of slavery in Brazil and a pioneering figure in the country's literary circles, publishing several novels and essays that addressed social issues of her time.
In the realm of the performing arts, Belmira de Almeida (1858-1935) was a renowned Portuguese actress and theater director. She gained acclaim for her performances in classical and contemporary plays, and her contributions to the development of the Portuguese theater are widely recognized.
The name Belmira also resonated in the world of science, as exemplified by Belmira Lopes (1905-1991), a Portuguese botanist and one of the first women to receive a doctoral degree in her field. Her research on plant taxonomy and ecology made significant contributions to the understanding of Portugal's flora.
Lastly, Belmira Lara (1939-2002) was a Cuban actress and dancer, known for her captivating performances in Latin American theater and film. Her talent and versatility earned her numerous accolades throughout her career, cementing her legacy as a prominent figure in the Spanish-speaking entertainment industry.
People
Belmira + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Belmira as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Belmira: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Belmira?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Belmira going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 342,754,338 US residents.
Is Belmira a common name?
We classify Belmira as "Very Rare". It ranks above 3.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 75 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Belmira most popular?
The single biggest year for Belmira was 1919, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Belmira is about 115 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Belmira a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Belmira in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.