Belle and Bella Names

Mabel

• Origin:

  Diminutive of Amabel

• Meaning:

  "lovable"

• Description:

  Mabel is a saucy Victorian favorite searching for its place in modern life; if you love offbeat old-fashioned names like Violet or Josephine, only sassier, Mabel is one for you to consider--it's started making a comeback and could rise to popularity a la Sadie. Several celebs have chosen it, including Chad Lowe, Nenah Cherry, Bruce Willis and Dermot Mulroney.

Arabella

• Origin:

  Latin

• Meaning:

  "yielding to prayer"

• Description:

  Arabella was used as a given name beginning in the 12th century with the birth of Arabella de Leuchars, granddaughter of William the Lion, King of Scotland. It is derived from the Latin orabilis, from which Arabella gets its meaning. Some scholars tie Arabella to Amabel, claiming that the former developed as a variation of the latter in Scotland, much like the name Annabel.

Isabella

• Origin:

  Spanish and Italian variation of Elizabeth, Hebrew

• Meaning:

  "pledged to God"

• Description:

  Isabella is the Latinate form of Isabel, a variation of Elizabeth which originally derived from the Hebrew name Elisheba. Variations Isabelle and Isabel are also popular, with the Scottish spelling Isobel another possibility. Newer alternatives include Sabella and Isabetta.

Isabel

• Origin:

  Spanish variation of Elizabeth

• Meaning:

  "pledged to God"

• Description:

  Isabel derived from Elizabeth in southwest Europe during the Middle Ages. It was originally written as Elisabel, but the first syllable was dropped as it spread across the continent. In Spain and Portugal, Isabel and Elizabeth are considered to be variations of the same name, but they are treated as separate names in other European countries and the US.

Bella

• Origin:

  Diminutive of Isabella, Italian

• Meaning:

  "beautiful"

• Description:

  Bella derived as a diminutive of Isabella and other names with the suffix -bella. While Isabella is a variation of Elizabeth and thus means "God is my oath," Bella is considered to mean "beautiful." This is because Bella is related to the word for "beautiful" in languages including Spanish, Italian, Latin, Portuguese, and Greek, as well as the name Belle, which means "beautiful" in French.

Belle

• Origin:

  Short form of Isabelle or French

• Meaning:

  "beautiful"

• Description:

  Belle has nothing but positive associations, from "belle of the ball" to "Southern belle" to the heroine of Disney's Beauty and the Beast. As if this weren't enough good things, Belle is also one of the most familiar and usable names that mean beautiful. Though it has been overshadowed by the Twilight-influenced Bella and longer forms like Isabella and Annabella, Belle has its own Southern charm and would make a pretty choice as a first or middle name.

Isabelle

• Origin:

  French variation of Isabel

• Meaning:

  "pledged to God"

• Description:

  Isabelle is the French variation of Isabel, which emerged in the Middle ages as an Occitan form of Elizabeth. Medieval queens Isabella of Angoulême and Isabella of France helped popularize the name in the United Kingdom. Isobel is the Scottish version, Isabella the Italian, and Izabel is used in Brazil.

Annabelle

• Origin:

  Combination of Anna and Belle or French form of Amabel

• Meaning:

  "loving"

• Description:

  This is a charming name on the rise along with other-belle names, especially in this form, but also appealing in the more streamlined Annabel spelling, made famous by the Edgar Allen Poe poem Annabel Lee. Annabelle is saucy and stylish, a tad upscale, has a sense of humor, is melodious and lively.

Annabel

• Origin:

  Scottish variation of Amabel

• Meaning:

  "loving"

• Description:

  Annabel is a spirited name that embodies quirky British gentility, and is gaining increading favor in the U.S. in the wake of the mega-popular Isabel. Appearing in Scotland as early as the twelfth century, where it was a royal name, it also recalls the romantic Edgar Allan Poe poem Annabel Lee, written upon the death of his young wife, Virginia.

Isobel

• Origin:

  Scottish variation of Isabel

• Meaning:

  "pledged to God"

• Description:

  The Scottish spelling of Isabel has a definite character of her own, the 'o' giving her an extra infusion of strength but also an element of confusion. How do you pronounce that? Answer: Exactly like Isabel or Isabelle.

Jezebel

• Origin:

  Hebrew

• Meaning:

  "not exalted"

• Description:

  Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab in the Hebrew Book of Kings, has long had a bad girl reputation. But in the modern secular world, this is somewhat mitigated by the feminist perspective of her as a strong woman, the power behind the throne. Previously avoided as a baby name, Jezebel is now, along with the also previously avoided Delilah and Desiree, coming into use, helped by its relation to other 'bel' name such as Isabel and Bella.

Mirabel

• Origin:

  Latin

• Meaning:

  "wonderful"

• Description:

  Mirabel is one of those names that's not on the Top 1000 but ought to be — and undoubtedly will be soon. There's a real resurgence of 'bel' names like Isabel and Annabel, and Mirabel, a more unusual and elegant example, which has a wonderful Latin meaning, is also the name of a delicate French plum spelled Mirabelle.

Bluebell

• Origin:

  Flower name from English

• Meaning:

  "blue bell"

• Description:

  Bluebell is one flower name that is used very quietly. Geri "Ginger Spice" Halliwell joined her former Spice Sisters in creative baby-naming with this adventurous -- some might say outlandish -- choice. Distinctive and charming? Or better suited to a farmyard animal? Your call.

Amabel

• Origin:

  Latin

• Meaning:

  "lovable"

• Description:

  Amabel is an older name than Annabel and a lot more distinctive. Amabel was a very common name in the twelfth and thirteen centuries, then was revived during the nineteenth century British fad for medieval names.

Cybele

• Origin:

  Greek

• Meaning:

  "the mother of all gods"

• Description:

  Cybele, the name of a Greek goddess of fertility, health, and nature, would unfortunately and undoubtedly be confused with Sybil.

Maribel

• Origin:

  English combination of Mary and Bel

• Meaning:

  "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + beautiful"

• Description:

  This modern name gathers some steam from the wildly popular Isabel.

Mirabella

• Origin:

  Italian variation of Mirabelle

• Meaning:

  "wonderful"

• Description:

  The short-lived magazine edited by former Vogue chief Grace Mirabella put this beautiful name off-limits for a while, but now it's perfectly fit to join the fashionable Bella pantheon. More distinctive than Isabella.

Annabella

• Origin:

  Latin variation of Annabel

• Meaning:

  "loving"

• Description:

  With the ascent of all names -ella, and even -bella, we predict that Annabella will rise as an alternative for such favorites as Isabella and Angelina. It's possible to spell the name Anabella. Annabel -- along with Anabel, Annabelle, Anabelle, and Annabell -- are potential alternatives.

Rebel

• Origin:

  Word name

• Meaning:

  "rebel"

• Description:

  Asking for trouble. Rebel Wilson is a hilarious Australian actress who puts a female spin on this contemporary badass baby name. Still, we think this name is truly gender neutral – though hardly neutral in any other way. Rebel is undoubtedly one of the edgiest girls' names starting with the letter R.

Elizabella

• Origin:

  Combination of Eliza and Bella

• Description:

  Elizabella is a much more obscure smoosh than sisters Isabella and Annabelle, but the megapopularity of Isabella may give this unusual combo name a boost.

Christabel

• Origin:

  Latin and French

• Meaning:

  "fair Christian"

• Description:

  Though Isabel is a smash hit, Christabel still hasn't been fully embraced. It was originally popularized in England via the Coleridge poem Christabel ("whom her father loves so well") and was given to the poet's granddaughter. Christabel Pankhurst was a famous U.K. suffragist.

Clarabelle

• Origin:

  Latin

• Meaning:

  "bright and beautiful"

• Description:

  Clown and cow name.

Ysabel

• Origin:

  Spanish variation of Isabel

• Description:

  Ysabel is the original spelling of this ever-more-popular name, though to English-speakers, the initial Y may confuse pronunciation.

Abella

• Origin:

  French, meaning 'breath'

• Description:

  A pretty name heard in the Louisiana Cajun community, Abella would fit right in with all the other, more familiar, bella names.

Maybelle

Rosabel

• Origin:

  English

• Meaning:

  "beautiful rose"

• Description:

  Rosabel, a vintage smoosh name created in the 18th century, feels slightly less frilly than her cousins Rosabelle and Rosabella. It could make for a more distinctive alternative to Isabel, or an unusual name that gets you to sweet nicknames Rosie or Belle.

Sabelle

Rosabella

• Origin:

  Latin

• Meaning:

  "beautiful rose"

• Description:

  A mashup of two of the most popular baby names today, Rose and Bella, that's still comparatively undiscovered in the US. Just 69 American baby girls were named Rosabella in 2016. It feels more Italianate and vivacious than Rosalind or Rosamund -- if also less refined.

Ishbel

Bonnibel

Mehitabel

• Origin:

  Hebrew

• Meaning:

  "God rejoices"

• Description:

  Most famously, the name of a 1920s alley cat.

Marbella

• Origin:

  Spanish place name

• Description:

  The name of the resort city on Spain's Costa del Sol is pronounced mar-BAY-a, setting it apart from the bella-name competition -- though many English speakers won't realize that.

Maribella

• Origin:

  English, combination of Mary and Bella

• Meaning:

  "drop of the sea, bitter, or beloved + beautiful"

• Description:

  Frilly but undeniably beautiful. The meaning of Mary is uncertain, but theories include "drop of the sea" (from Hebrew roots mar "drop" and yam "sea"); "bitter" (from Hebrew marah "bitterness"); and "beloved" (from the Egyptian root mr).

Zabelle

• Origin:

  Spelling variation of Zabel

• Description:

  Zabelle and Zabel are fresh (to us) and ancient forms of Isabel, making zippy variations for modern lovers of that ancient name who feel the original is overexposed.

Claribel

• Origin:

  Latin

• Meaning:

  "bright and beautiful"

• Description:

  Claribel improves on its mother name Clarabelle by distancing itself from the clown and the cow.

Amabella

• Origin:

  Latin

• Meaning:

  "lovable"

• Description:

  Amabella is an elaboration of Amabel, a popular medieval name. Neil Gaiman and Liane Moriarty used Amabella as a character name in their novels, The Graveyard Book and Big Little Lies, respectively.

Sabella

Orabella

• Origin:

  Latin variation of Arabella

• Meaning:

  "beautiful altar"

• Description:

  Lacks the vintage charm of the original Arabella, but with the love for all names Bella, it might appeal to some.

Miabella

Norabel

• Origin:

  Combination of Nora and Belle

• Meaning:

  "beautiful light"

• Description:

  Blended name sometimes heard in the early decades of the twentieth century.

Lulabelle

• Origin:

  English combination of Lula and Belle

• Meaning:

  "famous beauty"

• Description:

  Cutesy combination of Lula and Belle. Lula is a short form of names starting with the "Lu" sound, which may derive from Germanic hlud "famous", and Belle is French for "beautiful".

Adorabelle

Adabelle

Dulcibella

• Origin:

  Latin

• Meaning:

  "sweet and pretty"

• Description:

  Dulcibella is an old name that's fallen into disuse but may rise again with the new wave of fashionable names that end in -bel, -belle, and -bella. Behind the Name says that the medieval form of the name was the Dowsabel, which we definitely do not see making a comeback. But Dulcibel or Dulcibelle could work.

Anabel

• Origin:

  Spanish variation of Annabelle

• Description:

  Fewer letters, more confusion.

Corabelle

Adabella

Ysabelle

Sybelle

Fransabelle