Meaning: Its source is a French expression meaning "Beautiful."

Languages: This girl's name is used in English and French.

Nickname For: Belinda and Isabel

Compound Forms: Annabelle, Gloribel, Maribel, Marybelle, Rosabel, Rosabelle and Maebelle

Popularity: The name Belle ranked 1064th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Narrative: Some authorities believe this name originated as a pet form of Isabelle, and that its identification with the French word is a mere matter of coincidental spelling.