Belle
Say it: BEL/bɛl/
GirlMeans beautiful5 letters1 syllable
#325
in Ireland (2025)
#329 with spellings combined
12
babies in 2025
#222
best rank (2020)
233
babies since 2006
Down 65
10-year rank change
Belle through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | #329 |
| 2024 | 16 | #265 |
| 2023 | 11 | #335 |
| 2022 | 11 | #354 |
| 2021 | 12 | #339 |
| 2020 | 20 | #222 |
| 2019 | 18 | #261 |
| 2018 | 11 | #385 |
| 2017 | 15 | #301 |
| 2016 | 8 | #479 |
| 2015 | 19 | #264 |
| 2014 | 16 | #304 |
| 2013 | 7 | #544 |
| 2012 | 17 | #296 |
| 2011 | 13 | #361 |
| 2010 | 8 | #512 |
| 2009 | 8 | #489 |
| 2008 | 4 | #751 |
| 2007 | 3 | #841 |
| 2006 | 4 | #634 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Belle mean?
Beautiful
French, from belle (beautiful), and also a short form of Isabelle and Annabelle.
Say it right
BEL
The story of Belle
Belle is the French word for beautiful, which comes from Latin bella. It works in two ways as a name. Some parents choose it for the meaning, and others use it as a short form of longer names such as Isabelle and Annabelle. It is also popular as a middle name.
In Ireland it first reached the CSO list in 2006. It climbed through the 2010s and had its best year in 2020, with 20 babies and a rank of number 222 in 2020. In 2025, 12 girls were named Belle.
The CSO counts Belle and Bella as separate names, and Bella is the more common of the two. In Northern Ireland Belle’s best rank was number 179 in 2018.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Belle (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Belle (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Belle | 12 | 233 |
In Northern Ireland
#334 in 2025 with 4 babies. Best rank #179 (2018); 78 babies since 2011.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.