UK name, mostly girls
Bela
A feminine name of Hungarian origin meaning "beautiful", "fair", or "intellect".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Bela is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Bela popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2411, with 11 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 13 births.
This profile covers 147 England and Wales registrations across 19 recorded years from 2004 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 85% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 146 living people in the UK are called Bela. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Bela ranked #2411 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 11 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 13 girls were registered as Bela.
- • About 146 living people in the UK are estimated to have Bela as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 92.5% of Bela registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2411
2024
Births in 2024
11
Latest year
Peak year
2011
13 births
Estimated living
146
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Bela
In England and Wales birth records, Bela has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 7.5% of registrations are for boys and 92.5% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Bela registered for boys
- Ranked #4,789 in 2021
- 3 boys registered in 2021
- Peak: 2015 (6 births)
Bela registered for girls
- Ranked #2,411 in 2024
- 11 girls registered in 2024
- Peak: 2011 (13 births)
Meaning
What does Bela mean?
The name Bela has its origins in various cultures and languages around the world. In Hungarian, the name Bela is derived from the Slavic word "bely," meaning "white" or "fair." It was a popular name among Hungarian royalty and nobility during the medieval period.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name Bela was Bela I, who reigned as King of Hungary from 1060 to 1063. He was known for his efforts to strengthen the kingdom and promote Christianity.
In Sanskrit, the name Bela is believed to be derived from the word "bala," which means "young" or "child." It was a common name among Hindus, particularly in northern India.
In ancient Greek mythology, Bela was the name of an Amazon warrior, known for her strength and bravery in battle. The name has also been associated with the Greek word "belos," meaning "arrow."
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Bela. One of the most famous was Bela Bartok (1881-1945), a renowned Hungarian composer and pianist. He is celebrated for his innovative contributions to 20th-century music, incorporating folk elements into his compositions.
Another prominent figure was Bela Lugosi (1882-1956), a Hungarian-American actor best known for his iconic portrayal of Count Dracula in the 1931 film adaptation of Bram Stoker's novel.
In Indian history, Bela Rajput was a renowned ruler of the Chauhan dynasty in the 12th century. She was celebrated for her courage and military prowess in defending her kingdom against invaders.
Bela Kun (1886-1939) was a Hungarian revolutionary and communist leader who briefly ruled the Hungarian Soviet Republic in 1919 before being overthrown.
Bela Zsolt (1895-1949) was a Hungarian-American film director and screenwriter who worked in Hollywood during the Golden Age of cinema, directing numerous successful films in the 1930s and 1940s.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Bela over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Bela in England and Wales, from 2004 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Bela, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 11 births in 2024, compared with 13 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bela by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Bela was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #3415 | 34 | 5 |
| 2010s | #2644 | 87 | 9 |
| 2000s | #3603 | 26 | 5 |
Related
Names similar to Bela
- Bethany 43,226
- Brooke 18,370
- Bella 14,112
- Bonnie 12,149
- Beatrice 11,306
- Bethan 7,968
- Beth 6,440
- Betsy 5,065
- Beatrix 4,317
- Billie 4,220
- Beau 3,231
- Bryony 3,167
FAQ
Bela: questions and answers
How popular is the name Bela in the UK right now?
In 2024, Bela was ranked #2411 for girls in England and Wales, with 11 births registered.
When was Bela most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 13 babies registered as Bela in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Bela?
A feminine name of Hungarian origin meaning "beautiful", "fair", or "intellect".
How many people are called Bela in the UK?
A total of 147 babies have been registered as Bela across the 19 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.