Arabella – Name Meaning
The name Arabella is a girl’s name of Latin origin meaning “beautiful”. It is derived from the Latin phrase orabilis, which means “yielding to prayer”. The name has been used in England since the Middle Ages and was popularized by the Puritans in the 17th century.
History and Origin
The name Arabella is believed to have originated in Italy, where it was first used as a given name for girls. It is thought to be derived from the Latin phrase orabilis, which means “yielding to prayer”. The name was popularized by the Puritans in the 17th century and has been used in England since the Middle Ages.
Popularity
Arabella has been steadily increasing in popularity over the past few decades. In 2020, it ranked #541 on the Social Security Administration’s list of most popular baby names in the United States. It is also popular in other English-speaking countries such as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Famous People Named Arabella
There are several famous people who bear the name Arabella, including:
- Arabella Churchill (1648–1730), daughter of John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
- Arabella Weir (born 1957), British actress and comedian
- Arabella Dorman (born 1975), British artist
- Arabella Figg (born c.1935), fictional character from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series
Variations of Arabella
The name Arabella can also be spelled as Arbella or Arbelle. There are also several variations of the name that have different meanings, such as:
- Arabelle – French variation meaning “beautiful eagle”
- Arabel – Spanish variation meaning “beautiful song”
- Ara – Hebrew variation meaning “lioness”
The name Arabella can also be shortened to Bella or Belle.
