Arabella

The origin of this name is still today quite uncertain. The theories include: 1) An elaborate form of the medieval Scottish name “Arabel,” which in turn from “Annabel,” a combination (composed, blended name) of “Anna,” and “Bella” (from the Hebrew “Bella,” a short form of “Isabella, Isabel” or from the Latin “Bellus,” which means “beautiful, pretty, kind, lovable, pleasant, cute.” 2) From the Latin “ōrābilis > ōrābile,” meaning “exorable, invoked,” ancient meaning “answered prayer” or “prayer heard.” The first known case of the name is Orabilis, daughter of Ness of Leuchars, mother of Saer de Quincy, who lived in the middle of the 12th-century.