Find out how popular the first name Arabella has been for the last 48 years (from 1976 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Arabella by gender

Based on the last 48 years of data, Arabella is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,313 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Arabella.

The history of the first name Arabella

The name Arabella has its origins in Latin and ancient Roman culture. It is derived from the Latin word "orabilis" which means "admirable" or "appealing". The spelling "Arabella" first appeared in the Late Latin period around the 5th century AD.

In early medieval times, the name spread through continental Europe amid the influence of Latin on emerging European languages and cultures. Variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged, such as Arabelle in French and Arabella in Italian and Spanish. It continued to be used as a feminine given name throughout the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Arabella Stuart, born in 1575. She was an English noblewoman and a claimant to the English and Scottish thrones after King James VI of Scotland became King James I of England in 1603. Her claim was passed over in favor of her cousin, which sparked the "Arabella Plot" by her supporters in an attempt to take the throne.

In literature, the name appears in William Shakespeare's play The Tempest from around 1610-1611. A ship named "Arabella" is referenced, which may have been inspired by the political events surrounding Arabella Stuart at the time.

Arabella Churchill (1648-1730) was an English playwright and mistress of King James II of England. She was influential in restoring the Stuart monarchy during the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

Arabella Huntington (1850-1924) was an American philanthropist and artist who founded several museums and arts institutions in the United States, including the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California.

Arabella Weir (born 1957) is a British actress and author, best known for her roles in comedy series such as The Fast Show, Smack the Pony, and as Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films.

Arabella Steinbacher (born 1981) is a German violinist who has performed with leading orchestras worldwide and has won many prestigious awards for her classical violin performances.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Arabella was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Arabella, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!