I know at least 3 dogs named “Bella” and I’ve heard people mention dogs named Bella more than that. Why is this such a common dog name? Or is it just chance that I happen to know so many?
I’m not sure, but I know 3 dogs on my street with that name, too. Is that the name of one of the characters in that series of teen vampire movies? I haven’t seen them - I’m a little bit out of that demographic.
The Twilight thing is probably one factor, yes. I’ve also met one dog named Bella.
“Isabella” was also the most common name for baby girls in 2009-10.
I have a relative with an ugly little mutt that they named Bella. I also have a neighbor with an adorable little girl named Isabella, but they call her “Izzy”. Why they refer to this beautiful child with the comic strip name Izzy instead of the more appropriate Bella astounds me.
Our neighbor’s cat is Bella. Perhaps he’s confused.
It’s “Bela.” Because of their fangs.
A co-worker recently got a dog and named her Bella. But quickly added “It’s not because of Twilight.” Instead, it’s because the word “bella” is Italian for “beautiful.”
I know two dogs named Bellas. One looks like a Bella; the other does not.
I know one, too. Unfortunately she’s hideous, which is a shame, because she is a very friendly dog–but not one that anyone would ever conceivably call “beautiful” in any language known to humans.
One of the recent Disney princesses was Bella or Belle (Beauty and the Beast?). Lots of students named Bella around lately. It’s almost like the Jennifer deluge about a decade ago.
That was indeed Beauty and the Beast, which came out 20 years ago this week, and the heroine was Belle. Belle hasn’t been a popular name in the U.S. in a century. The chart at the Baby Name Wizard site suggests that Beauty and the Beast movie helped put Bella back on the map, but since its popularity has been skyrocketing following the release of the Twilight series (first book in October 2005, first movie in November 2008), it’s probably the movie.
I have a cat named “Newt” - I similarly am quick to add “not like Gingrich.”
She’s named after the little girl in Aliens, thank you very much. 
Very true, but in the past few years a good half dozen of my students were named Bella or Belle because their moms saw the movie. A couple more because there’s a Spanish soap opera character nick-named Bella. It’s more recent, so only the littlest munchkins were effected. Twilight isn’t popular around here. What can I say, this is an odd place to live 
Great website BTW; I love anything about names and etymology.
You teach three year olds?
We have a dog named Mirabel, who we sometimes call 'Bel or 'Bela. Or Mira, or Fuzzbutt. I know zilch about the Twilight stuff, but now that you brought it up, I’ll avoid calling her 'Bela in public for fear of being thought common.
I have a 2 1/2 year old lab, and my daughters named her Isabella after the twilight fad. We call her Izzy. Personally, I wouldn’t have called her that, but for one, I couldn’t come up with a better name, and two, I was outvoted.
I have noticed the same thing recently. I dog watched a Bella and I know a different dog with the same name now everywhere I look are other “Bella” dogs.
I have a dog named Bella. She is coming up 8 years old and I hadn’t even heard of Twilight when I named her. Now everyone’s dog is Bella.
I have a dog named Bella, but it’s short for Bellatrix.