bellevue

Bellevue is a toponym derived from the French bellevue, meaning “beautiful view.” It is used for multiple towns and cities in the United States and other countries, often reflecting a scenic overlook identified by early settlers or developers.

Bellevue, Washington, is a city in King County on the east side of Lake Washington, part of the Seattle metropolitan area. It functions as a regional economic center with a dense downtown district, corporate offices, and cultural institutions. Notable sites include Bellevue Downtown Park, the Bellevue Arts Museum, and the campuses of Bellevue College and other higher education institutions. The city is served by a regional transit network and has a growing technology, retail, and healthcare sector.

Bellevue, Nebraska, is a city in Sarpy County near the Missouri River, part of the Omaha–Council Bluffs metropolitan area. It hosts Bellevue University and a mix of residential neighborhoods and light industry, with a suburban character and proximity to Offutt Air Force Base.

There are additional communities named Bellevue in other U.S. states and in Canada. In many cases the name was chosen to evoke a viewpoint or scenic landscape, reflecting the original French meaning of the term.