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Bela as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Bela

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The baby name Bela is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced Hungarian: Béla [ˈbeːlɒ] (approx. 'BEH-lah'),English common: /ˈbeɪlə/ or /ˈbɛlə/ ('BAY-lə' or 'BEH-lə'),Sanskrit/Hindi: /ˈbela/ ('BEH-la'),Portuguese: /ˈbɛlɐ/ ('BEH-lah').

Bela is Hindi, Hungarian, Portuguese, Sanskrit, Slavic, Spanish in Origin.

Gender: Male
Syllables: 2.0
Origin: Hindi, Hungarian, Portuguese, Sanskrit, Slavic, Spanish
Pronunciation: Hungarian: Béla [ˈbeːlɒ] (approx. 'BEH-lah'),English common: /ˈbeɪlə/ or /ˈbɛlə/ ('BAY-lə' or 'BEH-lə'),Sanskrit/Hindi: /ˈbela/ ('BEH-la'),Portuguese: /ˈbɛlɐ/ ('BEH-lah')

What is the meaning of the name Bela ?

The baby name Bela is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced Hungarian: Béla [ˈbeːlɒ] (approx. 'BEH-lah'),English common: /ˈbeɪlə/ or /ˈbɛlə/ ('BAY-lə' or 'BEH-lə'),Sanskrit/Hindi: /ˈbela/ ('BEH-la'),Portuguese: /ˈbɛlɐ/ ('BEH-lah').

Bela is Hindi, Hungarian, Portuguese, Sanskrit, Slavic, Spanish in Origin.

Bela is a cross-cultural given name with multiple roots. In Hungary it appears as Béla, a masculine classic borne by four medieval kings (Béla I–IV) and by the composer Béla Bartók; its etymology is debated, often linked to Turkic beg/bey “chieftain, lord,” though a Slavic connection to “white” (bel-) is also proposed. In the Hebrew Bible, Bela (בֶּלַע) names figures in Genesis and Chronicles, likely from a root meaning “to swallow, devour.” The name entered wider European awareness through the actor Bela Lugosi.

In South Asia, Bela (belā) is typically feminine, tied to Hindi and Sanskrit where it denotes “time, moment” and a fragrant “jasmine.” Slavic usage includes Czech Běla (“white”). Variants and related forms include Béla (Hungarian), Bela (anglicized), Belah (Hebrew transliteration), Běla (Czech), and, by association or confusion, Bella as a Romance/English feminine form. Gender varies by tradition.

Bela has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Bela

Béla Kun Politician · Born 1886 · Hungary Béla Kun was a Hungarian politician best known for leading the short-lived Hungarian Soviet Republic in 1919. He played a key role in establishing a communist regime in Hungary during a turbulent period after World War I. Béla IV of Hungary Politician|royal · Born 1206 · Hungary Béla IV of Hungary was a king known for rebuilding the country after the devastating Mongol invasion in the 13th century. He is often credited with strengthening Hungary's defenses and encouraging the development of towns and fortifications. Béla III of Hungary Politician · Born 1148 · Hungary Béla III of Hungary was a prominent king who ruled from 1172 to 1196. He is most famous for strengthening the Hungarian monarchy and expanding its influence in Europe. His reign marked a period of significant development in the kingdom's administration and culture.
Béla II of Hungary Politician|royal · Born 1108 · Hungary Béla II of Hungary, also known as Béla the Blind, was a king of Hungary in the 12th century. He is most famous for his reign from 1131 to 1141, during which he strengthened the monarchy and dealt with internal conflicts. Despite being blind, he successfully ruled with the help of his wife, Queen Helena. Béla I of Hungary Politician|royal · Born 1016 · Kingdom of Hungary Béla I of Hungary was a king of the Kingdom of Hungary, reigning from 1060 to 1063. He is most famous for his efforts to strengthen the monarchy and for his role in the internal conflicts that shaped the early medieval Hungarian state. Béla's reign was marked by his attempts to consolidate power and stabilize the kingdom during a turbulent period. Bela B Actor|musician · Born 1962 · Germany Bela B is a German musician, actor, and author best known as the drummer and one of the singers of the punk rock band Die Ärzte. Born Dirk Albert Felsenheimer, he also released the solo album Bingo in 2006.

Celebrity babies named Bela

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Bela Gil Gilberto Gil singer ★★★★★

Bela – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Germany Boys 2025 #1 — 423
ET Boys 0 #27 1 678
GE 0 #40 5 997
MO 0 #51 2 2,706
GE Girls 0 #54 62 1,564
PR 0 #55 1 1,497
AL 0 #58 18 2,372
LU 0 #66 1 2,830
IN 0 #71 1 2,963
AO 0 #73 5 2,729
AZ Girls 0 #75 1 1,051
SI 0 #80 1 1,612
HU Boys 0 #81 150 3,954
BG 0 #82 1 1,799
AF Girls 0 #94 1 2,402
AL Girls 0 #96 163 4,141
ID Girls 0 #101 2 3,319
TW 0 #101 3 4,523
HU 0 #105 10 1,675
QA 0 #106 1 7,011
PH 0 #108 3 5,607
GE Boys 0 #110 1 2,055
BN Girls 0 #111 4 5,459
CY Girls 0 #123 3 3,755
EE Boys 0 #125 1 2,087
Switzerland Boys 2024 #129 9 1,769
RS Girls 0 #130 8 1,651
IQ 0 #132 2 3,533
MU 0 #132 6 3,613
ID Boys 0 #133 3 4,130
Switzerland Girls 2024 #134 2 1,786
GR 0 #134 2 3,911
MT Girls 0 #150 4 3,773
RS Boys 0 #152 3 2,277
LU Girls 0 #162 24 4,850
CR 0 #165 1 5,526
SI Girls 0 #169 9 2,769
AO Girls 0 #170 40 4,575
HR 0 #178 4 2,081
AE 0 #185 3 10,220
CZ 0 #186 1 3,154
AR 0 #193 1 2,915
RU 0 #193 2 3,641
LT Girls 0 #197 4 1,904
GR Girls 0 #211 32 6,293
PL 0 #211 2 2,600
PT Girls 0 #217 376 7,952
BG Boys 0 #219 2 3,850
LU Boys 0 #220 1 4,970
PS 0 #223 4 5,692
BG Girls 0 #224 8 3,559
PT 0 #224 23 4,161
HU Girls 0 #225 1 3,308
MO Girls 0 #231 21 7,056
NA Girls 0 #235 3 7,146
BD 0 #236 6 5,992
JP Girls 0 #247 5 6,592
GH 0 #248 1 5,396
HR Boys 0 #248 11 3,997
AO Boys 0 #249 1 5,568
France Boys 1961 #252 3 1,036
EC Girls 0 #255 4 3,650
TW Girls 0 #260 17 8,139
GR Boys 0 #271 3 6,912
NG 0 #271 2 5,926
HR Girls 0 #272 18 3,687
MU Girls 0 #273 79 8,539
IL 0 #276 7 6,291
AL Boys 0 #283 16 5,122
KZ Boys 0 #296 1 6,578
QA Girls 0 #301 16 15,378
CZ Boys 0 #303 3 6,530
KZ Girls 0 #305 16 5,862
SA 0 #312 1 10,560
CZ Girls 0 #318 24 5,378
PE 0 #328 2 6,350
DK Girls 0 #329 1 7,429
GH Girls 0 #330 8 6,973
CN Boys 0 #331 1 9,639
DK Boys 0 #332 1 7,401
GT 0 #335 4 5,948
SD Girls 0 #336 10 7,678
JO Girls 0 #337 3 7,570
CN Girls 0 #340 10 8,829
BD Girls 0 #347 40 8,413
MY 0 #353 2 12,352
BR 0 #355 6 5,969
HK 0 #356 2 8,483
PL Girls 0 #356 9 5,096
GH Boys 0 #361 1 8,138
PH Girls 0 #363 28 13,098
MU Boys 0 #369 1 8,477
PT Boys 0 #380 2 7,951
OM Girls 0 #384 13 15,987
JO Boys 0 #388 2 7,057
YE 0 #392 7 8,639
RU Girls 0 #396 105 11,913
BO 0 #400 9 6,868
MX 0 #403 11 8,339
France Girls 2019 #407 5 3,279
EG 0 #409 4 6,387
PS Girls 0 #415 109 10,981
Austria Boys 0 #420 23 2,180
IL Girls 0 #421 203 11,648
Germany 0 #428 10 2,542
CL 0 #433 2 6,867
Spain 0 #438 15 2,326
SD Boys 0 #460 7 10,523
GT Girls 0 #461 45 7,500
ZA 0 #472 3 14,421
IQ Girls 0 #475 30 11,303
AR Boys 0 #483 1 7,628
KW Girls 0 #491 25 19,177
LY 0 #494 42 12,703
GT Boys 0 #498 2 7,625
CM Girls 0 #499 42 11,671
AE Girls 0 #500 54 20,968
CO 0 #505 6 7,768
IR Girls 0 #508 23 8,334
PA Girls 0 #515 4 9,861
CR Girls 0 #520 13 11,342
RU Boys 0 #523 4 12,621
CM Boys 0 #530 21 12,054
UY Girls 0 #531 6 6,731
IN Girls 0 #540 92 13,121
BO Girls 0 #548 64 9,488
HK Boys 0 #556 2 12,905
PS Boys 0 #556 6 10,655
IR Boys 0 #562 4 10,162
SG Girls 0 #571 16 18,916
AR Girls 0 #582 18 8,289
BH 0 #583 5 17,937
HK Girls 0 #598 18 16,104
BD Boys 0 #601 5 10,045
IL Boys 0 #621 5 10,983
BO Boys 0 #622 1 9,244
LB 0 #645 14 13,263
IQ Boys 0 #651 17 13,071
CL Boys 0 #698 3 13,390
SY 0 #705 24 11,684
TN 0 #715 115 13,765
Finland Girls 2026 #732 7 3,895
SG Boys 0 #734 6 17,960
QA Boys 0 #738 6 18,093
NG Girls 0 #756 31 15,093
BR Boys 0 #785 1 12,213
Germany Girls 0 #798 41 4,949
KW Boys 0 #798 9 18,755
EG Girls 0 #801 159 14,742
EG Boys 0 #812 75 15,035
CL Girls 0 #824 28 14,098
Germany Boys 0 #827 126 5,697
SA Girls 0 #839 97 25,931
PE Girls 0 #847 97 14,861
Spain Girls 0 #857 127 5,561
DZ 0 #859 324 20,130
OM Boys 0 #872 10 17,948
United States Girls 2024 #887 30 8,487
BR Girls 0 #895 47 12,708
United States Boys 2022 #901 8 7,226
Spain Boys 0 #908 23 5,610
NL Boys 0 #918 34 5,873
PE Boys 0 #922 5 14,506
NL Girls 0 #926 30 5,933
MY Girls 0 #930 65 24,821
NG Boys 0 #942 10 16,906
MA 0 #954 175 20,986
CO Boys 0 #976 6 15,656
CO Girls 0 #981 98 16,140
IN Boys 0 #989 13 16,750
MX Girls 0 #998 186 17,781
MX Boys 0 #1,026 8 16,355
ZA Girls 0 #1,072 70 25,928
AE Boys 0 #1,077 16 22,615
MY Boys 0 #1,081 31 25,439
ZA Boys 0 #1,166 13 25,619
TR 0 #1,173 39 19,440
IT Girls 0 #1,189 259 9,415
IT Boys 0 #1,408 64 10,046
SA Boys 0 #1,573 42 28,008

Bela is popular in 84 countries — most recent births per country:

United States
Switzerland
France
Germany
Switzerland

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People also ask about Bela

Bela is predominantly a boy's name.
Bela is a 2 syllable name, pronounced Hungarian: Béla [ˈbeːlɒ] (approx. 'BEH-lah'),English common: /ˈbeɪlə/ or /ˈbɛlə/ ('BAY-lə' or 'BEH-lə'),Sanskrit/Hindi: /ˈbela/ ('BEH-la'),Portuguese: /ˈbɛlɐ/ ('BEH-lah').
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Béla (Hungarian, accented), Bela (unaccented Latin script), Běla (Czech/Slovak feminine), Bella (Italian/English and similar form).
Across languages, Bela has these equivalents: Béla (Hungarian masculine), Bella/Belle (English/Italian/French, 'beautiful'), Bianca/Blanca (Italian/Spanish, 'white'), Isabel/Isabela (Romance names shortened to Bela).
Yes, very popular — Bela ranked #1 in Germany in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 5 countries.
Bela ranks highest in Germany (#1 in 2025).
Bela's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #139 in 2014 to #129 in 2024 in Switzerland.
Yes — 6 notable people named Bela are in our database, including Béla Kun (Politician), Béla IV of Hungary (Politician|royal), Béla III of Hungary (Politician).
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Bela for their child, including Gilberto Gil.