Arabella
First recorded in medieval Scotland. Explanations divide between the Latin orabilis, 'able to be entreated', and an alteration of Annabel.
Arabella in 2025
Arabella was given to 1,423 babies in the United States in 2025, making it the 473rd most popular name of the year. That is roughly one in every 2,330 babies born.
The history of Arabella
Arabella reached its highest point in 2014, when 1,914 babies were given the name, ranking 388th that year. Its best-ever ranking was 373rd, in 2017.
Across the 145 years of records since 1881, 27,957 babies have been named Arabella. Half of them were born before 2016, which places the name's centre of gravity with Generation Alpha.
Arabella by decade
| Decade | Babies named Arabella | Best rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 48 | 1,203 |
| 1890s | 62 | 1,540 |
| 1900s | 85 | 1,739 |
| 1910s | 167 | 2,055 |
| 1920s | 166 | 3,287 |
| 1930s | 95 | 4,053 |
| 1940s | 62 | 5,579 |
| 1950s | 72 | 5,317 |
| 1960s | 69 | 6,068 |
| 1970s | 52 | 7,706 |
| 1980s | 45 | 9,530 |
| 1990s | 305 | 3,603 |
| 2000s | 3,108 | 867 |
| 2010s | 15,120 | 373 |
| 2020s | 8,501 | 448 |
Where Arabella is heading
Arabella has fallen 16% over the past decade, from 1,689 babies in 2015 to 1,423 in 2025.
Names like Arabella
Names that rose and fell at the same time as Arabella.