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At a Glance
- Meaning
- Short form of Isabella or Arabella
- Origin
- Italian
- Gender
- Girl
- Pronunciation
- BEL-ah
Bella is an Italian name, pronounced BEL-ah (/ˈbɛlə/), that started life as a short form of Isabella or Arabella. You'll often see it explained as simply meaning "beautiful" in Italian, but that's a later folk association — Bella actually began as a diminutive of those longer names, not a direct word for "beautiful." It's a classic name with a worldly feel.
Meaning & Origin of Bella
Meaning: Short form of Isabella or Arabella.
Origin: Italian.
A common claim: Bella is often said to simply mean 'beautiful' (from Italian bella). Actually: That's a later folk association — Bella actually began as a diminutive of Isabella or Arabella, not a direct word for 'beautiful.'
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Bella
BEL-ahIPA /ˈbɛlə/
Popularity of Bella
Bella peaked at #48 in 2010, when 5,135 baby girls were given the name; by 2024 it had settled to #109, with 2,469 girls named Bella that year.
Names Like Bella
These names share Bella’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Bella mean?
Short form of Isabella or Arabella. (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Bella?
Bella is pronounced BEL-ah (IPA: /ˈbɛlə/).
Is Bella a popular name right now?
Bella peaked at #48 in 2010 and is ranked #109 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
Make Bella Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Bella, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Bella? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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