Belle

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Belle

Gender: Feminine
Language: English, French
Etymology:
Belle is often short for the names Isabelle, or Mirabelle, or Annabelle. By itself, however, Belle can be from the French word meaning “Beautiful.”

History:
Bell had long been used as a diminutive for the names Isabel, or Isabella.
Belle, the French form, was popular during the 19th century. However, it declined during the beginning of the 20th century, and is rarely used now.

Pronunciation: belle.

Alternates: Bella, Bell, Bel.

Famous Bearers:
Fictional Characters:
Belle
Heroine of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (1991).

Miscellaneous:
Belle Boyd (1843-1900)
Confederate spy.
Belle Starr (Myra Belle Starr) (1848-1889)
Bandit queen.
Belle Case La Folette (1859-1931)
American journalist.
Bella Savitsky Abzug (1920-1998)
American feminist.

Political Figures:
Belle Lindner Moskowitz (1877-1933)
American political advisor.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.007 % named Belle
0.006 % named Bella
0.001 % named Bell

Popularity of Belle:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 82nd most popular.
1900-1910: 220th most popular.
1910-1920: 329th most popular.
1920-1930: 593rd most popular.
1930-1940: 995th most popular.
1940-2000: N/A

Popularity of Bella:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 161st most popular.
1900-1910: 344th most popular.
1910-1920: 482nd most popular.
1920-1930: 656th most popular.
1930-2000: N/A
2000: 781st most popular.
2001: 624th most popular.
2002: 430th most popular.