Ava Kowalski

By Ava Kowalski
Global Naming Traditions Specialist

Updated on September 06, 2024

Arabella

US Popularity Rank: 500

Origin: Latin

Meaning: Prayerful

It’s hard not to fall in love with a name that ends in the suffix for “beautiful.” There’s Isabella, Gabriella, Daniella and Arabella. The latter is a pretty, lyrical name whose roots are Scottish and whose meaning comes from the Latin orabilis, which means “prayerful.” The name goes back to at least the 16th century but didn’t become a hit with US parents until 2005. It has been popular in literature (think Harry Potter’s neighbor, Mrs. Arabella Figg) and in real life (like Dr. Oz’s daughter).