Bella
Say it: BEL-a/ˈbɛlə/
GirlMeans beautiful5 letters2 syllables
#110
in Ireland (2025)
#111 with spellings combined
42
babies in 2025
#73
best rank (2021)
896
babies since 2001
Down 9
10-year rank change
Bella through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 42 | #111 |
| 2024 | 48 | #97 |
| 2023 | 71 | #78 |
| 2022 | 67 | #81 |
| 2021 | 81 | #73 |
| 2020 | 69 | #77 |
| 2019 | 78 | #75 |
| 2018 | 72 | #85 |
| 2017 | 53 | #114 |
| 2016 | 53 | #114 |
| 2015 | 61 | #102 |
| 2014 | 53 | #112 |
| 2013 | 43 | #139 |
| 2012 | 35 | #168 |
| 2011 | 24 | #220 |
| 2010 | 21 | #255 |
| 2009 | 10 | #441 |
| 2008 | 3 | #860 |
| 2007 | 3 | #841 |
| 2006 | 6 | #503 |
| 2001 | 3 | #606 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Bella mean?
Beautiful
Short form of Isabella and Arabella, read as the Italian word bella (beautiful).
Say it right
BELa
The story of Bella
Bella started as a short form of longer names ending in -bella, especially Isabella and Arabella. Most people now read it as the Italian word bella, “beautiful”, and that link is a large part of its appeal, although as a first name it is used much more in English-speaking countries than in Italy. The same word, meaning beautiful, goes back to Latin and is shared by Spanish and Portuguese.
In Ireland Bella first reached the CSO list in 2001, and it rose quickly through the 2010s. Its best year was 2021, when 81 girls were named Bella and it reached number 73. It has slipped back since, to number 110 in 2025.
Bella has done better in Northern Ireland, where it reached 37th in 2019. The CSO counts Isabella and other related names separately.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Bella (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Bella
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Bella | 42 | 896 |
In Northern Ireland
#161 in 2025 with 11 babies. Best rank #37 (2019); 565 babies since 2008.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.