Arabella

It’s hard not to fall in love with a name that ends with a word that means “beautiful.” Joining the ranks of Isabella, Gabriella and Daniella, Arabella is a romantic girl’s name of Latin and Scottish origin. Arabella traces back to the Latin word orabilis, meaning "prayerful," "invokable," or "yielding to prayer." In Scotland, Arabella emerged during the Middle Ages, often considered an elaboration or alteration of the medieval name Annabel, which stems from the Latin Amabilis and means "lovable." If you're going by Arabella's blend of ara and bella, you could consider "beautiful altar" part of Arabella's repertoire, too.

Arabella brings plenty of aristocratic allure and literary drama. It's famously borne by Lady Arabella Stuart—a real-life claimant to the English throne—and Arabella Donn, a central character in Thomas Hardy’s 1895 novel Jude the Obscure. The Bump member mrsmellie associates Arabella with the main character of the novel A Most Peculiar Circumstance by Jen Turano, sharing "I loved how gutsy and independent she was!" Fantasy fans might nod to Harry Potter’s eccentric, cat-loving Squib neighbor, Mrs. Arabella Figg. There's also the tiefling child Arabella in Larian's Dungeons and Dragons-style video game, Baldur's Gate 3.

Hitting all the pop-culture and literary sweet spots while maintaining an air of royalty and mysticism, Arabella couldn't be more perfect for the little one who's the answer to your prayers.

Fun Facts About the Name Arabella

• A rock 'n' roll anthem: Beyond royal history and literature, Arabella got an indie-rock makeover in 2013 with the Arctic Monkeys' hit single "Arabella."
• Arabella's 112-year slumber: According to official Social Security Administration (SSA) data, Arabella was in the US Top 1000 baby names during the late Victorian era. However, it dropped out of the SSA Top 1000 after 1893 and didn't re-enter for 112 consecutive years. Arabella finally made a much-deserved comeback in 2005.
• The first female lawyer in the US: Belle Aurelia Babb made history in 1869 when she became the first woman admitted to a United States state bar exam. Throughout law school, she went by Arabella, and then became Arabella Mansfield after marrying natural history professor John M. Mansfield.