The story behind Bella
From Italian: a diminutive of Isabella and Arabella, by folk etymology interpreted as bella (“beautiful”).
Other language forms and explanations (2)
Dutch entry
Likely a variant of Belle, perhaps from Latin or Italian, functioning as a shortening of names like Isabella, etc.
French entry
From Italian Bella.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈbɛlə/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Dutch: /ˈbɛ.laː/
- French: /bɛ.la/
- French: /be.la/
Popularity
Bella ranked #136 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Bella
Barbra
A female given name from Latin, a nonstandard spelling of Barbara. Associated with Barbra Streisand, who changed the spelling of her name from Barbara.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Beata
Learned borrowing from Latin Beāta.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Beáta
a female given name from Latin Beāta (“blessed”), equivalent to German Beate
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Bianca
From Italian Bianca, equivalent of English Blanche. Recently borrowed from Italian Bianca. Recently borrowed from Italian Bianca. Borrowed from Italian Bianca. Doublet of…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Bianka
From Italian Bianca. Borrowed from Italian Bianca. Derived from Italian Bianca.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Aida
Borrowed from Italian Aida, made famous by Giuseppe Verdi's opera Aida, which premiered in 1871. From Italian Aida.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Bella
Æmile
From Latin Aemilius. See also French Émile.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Balbina
Learned borrowing from Latin Balbina.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Balbino
Borrowed from Latin Balbīnus.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Bella
Aarón
a male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek, in turn from Hebrew], equivalent to English Aaron
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abdiasz
Learned borrowing from Latin Abdias, from Ancient Greek Ἀβδίας (Abdías), from Hebrew עובדיה.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abel
English Abel From Middle English Abel, from Old English Ābel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel, “Abel”), possibly from the…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length