Arabella - name meaning and origin

The girl's name Arabella \a-ra-bella, arab(el)-la\ is pronounced AIR-a-bell-ah. It is of Latin origin, and its meaning is "prayerful". From "orabilis". Also possibly a variant of Anabella (see Annabel). Popular in England, where it has an upper-class aura. A ship named the Arbella brought a group of Puritan English aristocrats to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630; many socially prominent Boston families are descended from this group.

Arabella has 17 variant forms: Ara, Arabel, Arabela, Arabelle, Arbela, Arbell, Arbella, Arbelle, Bel, Bella, Belle, Orabel, Orabella, Orabelle, Orbel, Orbella and Orbelle.

For more information, see also the related name Araminta.

Arabella is a very rare female first name and a very rare surname (source: 1990 U.S. Census). Displayed below is the baby name popularity trend for the girl's name Arabella. Compare Arabella with related baby names.