Bela is a name of Hungarian origin, derived from the word 'bélá', which means 'white'. It has been used as a given name for centuries in Hungary and other parts of Eastern Europe.
The name Bela gained prominence during the medieval period when several members of the House of Árpád, Hungary's first ruling dynasty, bore this name. The most notable among them was Béla I (940-997), who was the first Christian king of Hungary. He played a significant role in converting his people to Christianity and is remembered as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
In addition to its historical significance, Bela has also been used in various forms across different cultures. For instance, it is often transliterated into other languages, such as Belá (Hungarian), Biela (Polish), or Bèla (Catalan). It can also be found with slight variations like Bella (Italian) or Beata (Latin).
In popular culture, Bela has been used in several notable works of literature and film. One example is the character Bela Lugosi from Bram Stoker's novel "Dracula," who was famously portrayed by actor Béla Lugosi in the classic 1931 film adaptation. Another example is the title character in Anne Rice's "The Vampire Lestat" series, whose full name is simply Bela.
Overall, Bela is a unique and historically significant name with roots tracing back to medieval Hungary. Its meaning, 'white', adds an intriguing layer of symbolism that has resonated with parents for generations across various cultures.
Based on the statistics provided for the name Bela in the United States from 1912 to 2022, we can observe several trends over time.
The name Bela experienced its highest popularity between 1958 and 1967, with the most births occurring in 1962, totaling 13 births. During this period, the name was consistently given to between 6 and 13 babies each year.
Interestingly, there were several years with no recorded births of the name Bela: 1913, 1921, 1930-1942, 1945, 1948-1951, 1968-1971, 1975-1978, and 1984-1988. This indicates that the name was not commonly chosen during these years.
In recent times, from 2000 to 2022, the popularity of the name Bela has fluctuated between 5 and 13 births per year. The most recent data shows that in 2022, there were 8 births of the name Bela in the United States.
Overall, throughout the century from 1912 to 2022, a total of 485 babies were named Bela at birth in the United States.