Bella vs Maddie
Bella and Maddiecompared 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 Maddie #374 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Bella was ranked #80 and Maddie #150 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Bella was ranked #83 and Maddie #476 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Bella was ranked #110 and Maddie #294 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Bella and Maddie over time
Bella and Maddie appear together in 3 published lists, across 62 years of shared records. Bella held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Maddie in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Bella reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Maddie in 1. 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.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Bella and Maddie changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 2008 and 2024, ending at #80 and #150.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Bella held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Maddie in 11.
Highest recorded here: Bella #52 in 2014, Maddie #255 in 2005.
The order changed in 2007: Bella moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #388 and #273; by 2007 that had become #293 and #302.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bella #76, Maddie #374.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 2008–2024
Bella held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Maddie in 1.
Highest recorded here: Bella #37 in 2019, Maddie #127 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bella #80, Maddie #150.
Republic of Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 2008–2025
Bella held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Maddie in 1.
Highest recorded here: Bella #73 in 2021, Maddie #232 in 2024.
The order changed in 2009: Bella moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #862 and #750; by 2009 that had become #439 and #893.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bella #110, Maddie #294.
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 | Maddie |
|---|---|---|
| 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 #294 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| 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); Maddie does not have one recorded yet.
- Bella and Maddie both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Bella; Maddie 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
Maddie
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #643 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 recorded2002–2024
Highest recorded position: #127 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2022 (recorded 2002–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #294 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls