Bella vs Stella
Bella and Stellacompared 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Bella was ranked #43 and Stella #62 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2024, Bella was ranked #99 and Stella #60 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Bella was ranked #230 and Stella #66 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Bella was ranked #76 and Stella #305 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Bella was ranked #80 and Stella #212 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Bella was ranked #83 and Stella #351 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Bella was ranked #110 and Stella #160 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Bella and Stella over time
Bella and Stella appear together in 6 published lists, across 128 years of shared records. Bella held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Stella in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 5 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 4 of those lists, Stella 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Stella moved into the top 50 at #45 in 2013 as Bella fell out of it to #52, having been #49 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2013, Stella moved ahead of Bella in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #49 and #53 the year before became #52 and #45.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Bella and Stella changed places 9 times in New Zealand · Girls between 2003 and 2023, ending at #43 and #62.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Bella and Stella averaged 14.2 places apart, ending at #43 and #62.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Bella #26 in 2011, Stella #29 in 2011.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Bella held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Stella in 11.
Highest recorded here: Bella #52 in 2014, Stella #294 in 2020.
The order changed in 2007: Bella moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #388 and #331; by 2007 that had become #293 and #357.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bella #76, Stella #305.
Norway · Girls23 shared years, 1999–2025
Bella held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stella in 23.
Highest recorded here: Bella #159 in 2023, Stella #64 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bella #230, Stella #66.
New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 2003–2023
Bella held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Stella in 10.
Highest recorded here: Bella #26 in 2011, Stella #29 in 2011.
The order changed in 2023: Bella moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #63 and #61; by 2023 that had become #43 and #62.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Bella #43, Stella #62.
Republic of Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 2001–2025
Bella held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Stella in 5.
Highest recorded here: Bella #73 in 2021, Stella #103 in 2024.
The order changed in 2010: Bella moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #439 and #239; by 2010 that had become #255 and #276.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bella #110, Stella #160.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls19 shared years, 2006–2024
Bella held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Stella in 12.
Highest recorded here: Bella #42 in 2007, Stella #41 in 2016.
The order changed in 2013: Stella moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #49 and #53; by 2013 that had become #52 and #45.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bella #99, Stella #60.
Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 2008–2024
Bella held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Stella in 0.
Highest recorded here: Bella #37 in 2019, Stella #178 in 2020.
The order changed in 2010: Bella moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #311 and #311; by 2010 that had become #108 and #258.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bella #80, Stella #212.
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 | Stella |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #110 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #60 (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); Stella does not have one recorded yet.
- Bella and Stella both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Bella; Stella doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
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
Stella
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #411 among girls in Norway in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded2001–2023
Highest recorded position: #29 among girls in New Zealand, in 2011 (recorded 2001–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #60 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls