Arabella

Arabella is a Latin-origin name, most likely derived from the medieval Latin Orabilis, meaning "yielding to prayer" or "invokable," though it has sometimes been folk-etymologized as connected to the Arabic word for Arab or to the Latin ara, meaning "altar." The name gained prominence in Scotland and England from the medieval period onward, with notable bearers including Arbella Stuart, the cousin of King James I who was considered a potential claimant to the English throne. Its elegant sound helped sustain its aristocratic associations through the 18th and 19th centuries and into modern use. Related forms include Arabel, Orabilis, and the variant Arbella.