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Ireland (Historical Counties) => Ireland => Dublin => Topic started by: rosyapple on Sunday 23 August 15 10:35 BST (UK)

Title: Is Bellah a nickname?
Post by: rosyapple on Sunday 23 August 15 10:35 BST (UK)

Hi
I've just come across the name Bellah in connection with a recently found uncle. I'm not sure of the spelling. It's an unusual name for a male and I think it's a nickname. Anyone with any information on it please?

Title: Re: Is Bellah a nickname?
Post by: conahy calling on Sunday 23 August 15 14:43 BST (UK)

Possibly a variant of Billy is my guess -

 Bill, Billy are diminutives of William.

Title: Re: Is Bellah a nickname?
Post by: dathai on Sunday 23 August 15 15:05 BST (UK)

now that Conahy has brought it to mind i had a friend in the 60s Billy better known as Billah.

Title: Re: Is Bellah a nickname?
Post by: Sinann on Sunday 23 August 15 19:01 BST (UK)

Bela Doyle FairCity was my first thought, I asked my mother (87) if she knew what it was short for and she said it's not short for anything it's a name, but major shortage of both spellings in Census and Civil Reg so I'm inclined towards William as well.

Title: Re: Is Bellah a nickname?
Post by: grizzly1 on Monday 24 August 15 13:58 BST (UK)

I know 2 people with the nickname 'Bella'..one is Male the other Female..the female christian name is Martina, the Male James, neither have the same surname...sorry for adding to the confusion.

Title: Re: Is Bellah a nickname?
Post by: rosyapple on Monday 24 August 15 18:20 BST (UK)

Thanks for trying to help.
 I googled - a mistake because it only adds to the confusion unfortunately.
One site thought it might mean Albert but according to the rest it's a Slavic Christian name.
So it seems that in Ireland at least it can be used on a whim. Oh well that's what I get for trying to take a shortcut. Cheers all.