Bella vs Lyra
Bella and Lyracompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Bella was ranked #76 and Lyra #83 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Bella was ranked #80 and Lyra #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Bella was ranked #83 and Lyra #108 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Bella was ranked #110 and Lyra #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Bella and Lyra over time
Bella and Lyra appear together in 2 published lists, across 40 years of shared records. Bella held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Lyra in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Bella reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Lyra in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls25 shared years, 1999–2024
Bella held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Lyra in 0.
Highest recorded here: Bella #52 in 2014, Lyra #78 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bella #76, Lyra #83.
Republic of Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 2009–2025
Bella held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Lyra in 0.
Highest recorded here: Bella #73 in 2021, Lyra #213 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bella #110, Lyra #213.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Bella | Lyra |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Functions two ways: as a short form of Isabella (and other names ending in '-bella'), and independently as the Italian word for 'beautiful'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Italian / short form of Isabella | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈbɛlə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #110 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Bella has a recorded origin (Italian / short form of Isabella); Lyra does not have one recorded yet.
- Bella and Lyra both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Bella; Lyra doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Bella
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #916 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2003–2023
Highest recorded position: #26 among girls in New Zealand, in 2011 (recorded 2003–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #230 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Lyra
Popularity journey
First recorded1999
First recorded at #3900 among girls in England and Wales in 1999 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1999–2024
Highest recorded position: #78 among girls in England and Wales, in 2022 (recorded 1999–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls