unisex name
Bellamy
BEL-uh-mee (English)
- Origin French
- Gender Unisex
- Syllables 3
- Letters 7
- Popularity Top 1000 (US)
- Births on record 7,287
the United States
#721
2025 births
Bellamy is a unisex name from an English surname, derived from Old French bel ami, "beautiful friend." It began as a medieval nickname for a good companion, and it has become a stylish first name with a friendly, upbeat rhythm.
- Bellamy is a name of French origin.
- Peaked in 2022, when 850 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 4,637 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1993.
- 3 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Bellamy Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1990s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 10 |
| 2000s | 121 |
| 2010s | 2,180 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 4,448 |
What Bellamy Means
Bellamy means fair friend or good friend. In medieval French bel was a broad word of approval, so the nickname praised a person's character as much as their looks.
Where Bellamy Comes From
Old French bel, fair, and ami, friend, formed a term of address that the Normans carried to England. It became a byname, and Ralf Belami appears in the Norman Exchequer Rolls of 1189. House of Names finds the surname early in Shropshire. Latin bellus and amicus lie behind the two words, the same roots as English beauty and amicable. The surname spread through England and crossed to America, where author Edward Bellamy wrote the utopian novel Looking Backward. Modern parents have moved it into first-name use along with other three-syllable surnames such as Rafferty.
Bellamy in Use
Muse frontman Matt Bellamy and Bellamy Blake of the TV series The 100 have given it modern recognition. Bell, Bella and Amy all fit as short forms.
How Popular Is Bellamy?
In 2025, Bellamy was given to 715 babies in the United States, ranking #721 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Where Bellamy Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Bellamy
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Bellamy Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Bellamy over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Bellamy
- English BEL-uh-mee
2 nicknames for Bellamy
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Sibling Names for Bellamy
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Bellamy — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Bellamy
What does the name Bellamy mean?
Beautiful friend or good friend, from the Old French bel ami.
Is Bellamy a boy's or a girl's name?
It's unisex and used for both.
What is a nickname for Bellamy?
Bell, Bella and Bel are natural choices.
How popular is the name Bellamy?
In 2025, Bellamy was given to 715 babies in the United States, ranking #721 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
How many syllables are in Bellamy?
Bellamy has 3 syllables.
When was Bellamy most popular?
Bellamy peaked in 2022, when 850 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
Is Bellamy a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Bellamy currently ranks #721 in the United States. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.