Arabella | Name Meaning & Origin

Scottish Names, Celtic Names, English Names

English speaking countries

Although the ultimate origin is unsure, it most likely lies in the name Annabel or Anabella. Arabella was likely a misspelling or a spelling change which first made its appearance in the 1600's and caught on. It appeared in both England and Scotland in relatively the same period of time. Its variant is Arabel, which was used much less frequently.

'Arabella' is the name of an opera by Richard Strauss. Arabella Weir is an English actress.

Arbella or Arabella Stuart was a descendant of English King Henry VII, who for some time was considered a possible successor to Elizabeth I. She was raised by her grandmother, Bess of Hardwick, one of the richest and most powerful women in Elizabethan England.