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Arabelle

Girl name · 7 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Arabelle: 7 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 4 births in 2024.

Arabelle is a graceful elaboration of the classic Arabella, which itself derives from the Latin *orabilis*, meaning "prayerful" or "invocable," though it also carries echoes of the Italian *bella* ("beautiful"). The name gained early prominence through Lady Arabella Stuart (1575–1615), a cousin of both Mary Queen of Scots and King James VI of Scotland, whose tragic life and claim to the English throne made her a notable figure in Scottish and English history. While no major places bear the name directly, the root *orabilis* connects it to the word "oratory," a place of prayer. Arabelle remains a rarer, more ornate variant of Arabella, offering a touch of French-inspired elegance that has seen modest use in modern Scotland.

Girl 2 of 52 years

Peak year
20244 babies
Latest (2024)
#6384 babies
Total births
7since 2022
5-year trend
≈ stablevs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2024 · 4
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).