Bellamy is an intriguing and distinctive given name of French origin, derived from the Old French word 'bel' meaning 'beautiful', combined with 'ami' signifying 'friend'. It gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 19th century, notably after being used as a character's name in Edward Bulwer-Lytton's 1837 science fiction novel, 'The Last Man'. Bellamy is often associated with progressive ideals due to its usage in the book, where it is the surname of the story's protagonist who envisions a utopian society. In more recent times, it has been popularized as a first name by celebrities such as American actor Bellamy Young.
The name Bellamy experienced a significant increase in popularity over the years, with the number of births nearly doubling from 5 in 2014 to 335 in 2020, and reaching its peak at 446 births in 2021. However, there was a notable drop in 2022 with 442 births, followed by another decrease to 347 births in 2023. Overall, from 2014 to 2023, there were a total of 2242 babies named Bellamy born.