Bellamy

Meaning of Bellamy

Bellamy, pronounced BEL-uh-mee, began life as an Anglo-Norman greeting—bel ami, “beautiful friend”—a phrase that could sit comfortably beside a line of Hafez celebrating the virtues of loyal companionship. As a given name it wears no fixed uniform, serving girls and boys alike, and its rise on U.S. birth charts—from a handful of entries in the 1990s to more than 300 newborns a year today—suggests that parents have decided friendship is fashionable. Literary and screen references help: there is Bellamy Blake, the brooding survivor of TV’s “The 100,” and Bellamy Young, the poised actress of “Scandal,” each adding a faint patina of drama to the name’s otherwise cordial meaning. With its soft consonants, three easy syllables, and a built-in note of goodwill, Bellamy offers the modern parent a diplomatic passport: familiar yet unexpected, elegant yet approachable—rather like serving saffron rice with everyday stew.

Pronunciation

English

• Pronunced as BEL-uh-mee (/ˈbɛl.ə.mi/)
• Pronunced as BEL-uh-mee (/ˈbɛləmi/)

• Everly
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