Belle

We are living in the age of French girls' names ending in the "elle" sound. Brielle recently ranked in the top 100 and Noelle is still rising. Isabelle and Annabelle have also been popular lately. However, there is one old-fashioned name of that type that has yet to become popular again.

Belle, as we all know, is the French word for "beautiful." It began as a short form for names ending in the "bel" sound, including Isabel, during the Middle Ages. Belle did not become a full given name until the eighteenth century, around the time when Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve published her famous fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast" ("La Belle et Le Bête" in French). Belle is the name of the "beauty" in modern English adaptations, including the 1991 animated Disney film.

Belle became more common during the nineteenth century. It ranked in the American top 100 through 1884 before falling from use, leaving the top 1000 in 1935. Outlaw Belle Starr (1848-1889) adds a rustic vibe to her name's old-fashioned charm even though she was born Myra Maybelle. 

Belle returned to the top 1000 from 2016 to 2020 and again in 2022. Maybe the name is too tied to the Disney princess. Disney did not stop Jasmine and Aurora from being popular, but neither of these princesses are as popular as Belle. Regardless, the name is currently more common in England and the Netherlands.  

Parents looking for a unique single-syllable French vintage name are likely to consider Belle. It is also a fairy tale name via "Beauty and the Beast" and a rustic name via Belle Starr alongside the phrase "country belle."


STYLES:



SISTERS:

Clarice, Dove, Flora, Hattie, Iris, Lucie, Mae, Reba, Sylvie, Willa


BROTHERS:

Anton, Clement, Duke, Frost, Harlan, Jules, Major, Pierre, Rex, Wiley


ALTERNATIVES:

Babette, Bess, Blossom, Blythe, Delta, Dolly, Dulcie, Fleur, Odette, Snow


FURTHER RESOURCES:

"Belle." Names, Behind the Name, 21 Jan. 2022, https://www.behindthename.com/name/belle. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.

Nickerson, Eleanor. "Belle." Names of the Week, British Baby Names, 17 Aug. 2019, https://www.britishbabynames.com/blog/2019/08/name-of-the-week-belle.html. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.

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