What do you think of [name_f]Bella[/name_f]? Is it just too common now? Can it stand alone as a name without anything else attached to it? [name_m]How[/name_m] many Bellas do you know?
I think [name_f]Bella[/name_f] is cute! I have never come across one either! 
Personally I’m not a fan of it, the popularity of it & other -belle/bella names have become a little annoying - very much like the [name_u]Jayden[/name_u]/[name_u]Aiden[/name_u]/[name_m]Caiden[/name_m]/[name_m]Zayden[/name_m] etc. trend.
Having said that it can definitely work as a stand alone name & it isn’t a bad name in general.
I know of 7 [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f]/[name_f]Isabella[/name_f]/Iosbels etc. 4 [name_f]Annabel[/name_f], 3 [name_f]Bella[/name_f]/[name_f]Bella[/name_f]'s & 1 [name_f]Rosabelle[/name_f]. It’s insanely popular around my area which probably puts me off it even more. The kids are aged between 8 & 0.
I don’t think [name_f]Bella[/name_f] is too popular on it’s own. In the US it’s ranked #74 and [name_f]Eva[/name_f] is #75, but you never hear anyone complain about [name_f]Eva[/name_f]'s popularity. The problem is names like [name_f]Isabella[/name_f], [name_f]Annabella[/name_f], [name_f]Arabella[/name_f], et al that have flooded the market with girls nicknamed [name_f]Bella[/name_f]. Then there are the sound alike names like [name_f]Ella[/name_f], [name_f]Nella[/name_f], [name_f]Stella[/name_f], [name_f]Briella[/name_f], etc that are an issue as well.
All that aside I’d absolutely use [name_f]Bella[/name_f] with the right middle name and wouldn’t be rolling my eyes if someone else used it either.
I think [name_f]Bella[/name_f] alone is lovely. One of my best friends (her name is [name_f]Noelle[/name_f]) has an older sister named [name_f]Isabella[/name_f], who I’m equally as good friends with. It’s rare to hear her called [name_f]Isabella[/name_f], as almost everyone she knows calls her by [name_f]Bella[/name_f]. I think it’s quite cute and lovely on its own and could work. Where I live, I don’t know any other [name_f]Isabella[/name_f]'s and I only know one [name_f]Isabel[/name_f]. I actually quite like both names, but I don’t think you need something attached to use [name_f]Bella[/name_f].
**Actually, my grandmother (from my Italian side) tends to call me [name_f]Bella[/name_f] because [name_f]Bella[/name_f] means beautiful in Italian. So I have a very positive feeling towards the name in general.
[name_f]Bella[/name_f] is so pretty, but I can see how its popularity can put many people off of using it.
I think it’s totally usable, though, if that’s what you want. It’s a gorgeous name and popular for a reason! As teenberry also mentioned, it literally means beautiful and it’s pretty in sound and on paper.
The only drawbacks would again, be popularity issues. She would probably be one of a few [name_f]Bella[/name_f]'s in her class (therefore be known as [name_f]Bella[/name_f] T. (or whatever your last initial is), and she may get asked often if her name is short for anything (which might just get annoying).
I know 3 [name_f]Bella[/name_f]'s. One is a work friend whose daughter is called [name_f]Bella[/name_f], but is actually named [name_f]Isabella[/name_f]. Another is my cousin [name_f]Bella[/name_f] (just [name_f]Bella[/name_f]). Lastly, my sister named her cat [name_f]Bella[/name_f] (again just [name_f]Bella[/name_f]). =p
I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] the name. I prefer it as a nickname for [name_f]Isabella[/name_f]/[name_f]Arabella[/name_f] but I also tossed around the idea of [name_f]Bella[/name_f] by itself. I think people make it out to be more popular than it is, I only know one [name_f]Bella[/name_f] (my niece, but her full name is [name_f]Isabella[/name_f]). It was #1 to use in the future but it’s out of the picture now because my sister used it. I really adore it.
Honestly, I know a lot of Bellas. It’s very popular, imo, but if that is the name you love, go for it. It’s very pretty.
If the popularity of similar sounding names doesn’t bother you (as pps have pointed out) I say use it! It’s a beautiful name with a beautiful (!) meaning; (there’s a reason so many people use it as their nn)!
I guess the slightly different route you could take is by using the name [name_f]Belle[/name_f]?
Idk, but I think [name_f]Bella[/name_f] is best
I know a lot of Bellas, but if the popularity doesn’t bother you, I think [name_f]Bella[/name_f] is a beautiful name that can stand on its own!
I love [name_f]Bella[/name_f]! [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] nn [name_f]Bella[/name_f] is my favorite girls’ name. I do think it can stand well on its own, although I think, with [name_f]Isabella[/name_f]'s popularity, a lot of people might tend to ask, “Short for [name_f]Isabella[/name_f]?” or something of the sort.
I only know one [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] (no other little ones with [name_f]Bel[/name_f]-related names), and she goes by [name_u]Izzy[/name_u] or sometimes Izza. Besides Twilight, my first association with it was a singer whose music I’m fond of–he has two girls, [name_f]Isabella[/name_f] and [name_f]Arianne[/name_f] (which obviously influenced my style, haha, as [name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] and [name_f]Arianne[/name_f] are my top two!). His daughter goes by [name_f]Bella[/name_f], but I don’t know anyone in real-life who does. I think it’s gorgeous. It’s really the only reason [name_f]Adele[/name_f] nn [name_f]Della[/name_f] hasn’t zoomed up my list faster than it has ([name_f]Isabelle[/name_f] “[name_f]Bella[/name_f]” and [name_f]Adele[/name_f] “[name_f]Della[/name_f]” is unfortunately a little ridiculous for sisters!).
I know lots of Bellas (I am a Kindergarten teacher…I feel like I have a [name_f]Bella[/name_f] every year). None of them have been Bellas though - [name_f]Annabelle[/name_f], [name_f]Isabella[/name_f], [name_f]Arabella[/name_f], [name_f]Amabel[/name_f]…I actually had 3 Bellas two years ago but they all had different given names!!
However, it’s popular for a reason - it’s a sweet name with a beautiful meaning (literally). My mom always called me her [name_f]Bella[/name_f] growing up…so I have nice associations with it too.
If you really love it, who cares how popular it is?
I love [name_f]Bella[/name_f]. I prefer it as a nickname but it is still fine as a name on its own.
[name_m]Even[/name_m] though it is apparently super popular I love [name_f]Isabella[/name_f].
I know of one [name_f]Bella[/name_f], one [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] and two Isabellas.
I think go for it. Paired with the right middle name it doesn’t matter how popular it is. [name_m]Just[/name_m] don’t go for a overused middle name like [name_f]Grace[/name_f] or [name_f]Rose[/name_f] or even [name_f]Jane[/name_f] or [name_f]Faith[/name_f].
[name_f]Bella[/name_f] can definitely stand alone. I only know one [name_f]Bella[/name_f], and she is the sweetest little thing.