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Arabella
What do you think of Arabella? Has it had it's moment and flittered away? Does it deserve to stay? I was remembering this name recently when reviewing some of my old short stories. She had been a retired circus acrobat character and I still think that seems reasonably fitting. I didnt used to like it, but it has grown on me over the years, even if I prefer a few similar names before it. Do you like Arabella? What sort of person do you imagine with it? Does it have lasting power or no?*on second thought, a name that sounds like it is saying "air beauty" sounds perfect, if not too on-the-nose for a circus acrobat character, lolPlease rate my "Names I would Use" list & "Backup Favorites" list. Feel free to rate some of my other lists too if you have the time.
https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/223226/138473

This message was edited 7/11/2024, 9:26 PM

Replies

I like it and I was delighted to meet and get to know a real-life Arabella. She's a child so she's got a lot growing to do, but she's an impish little girl with a lion-heart. Not exactly suited to the frilliness of her name, but perhaps she will enjoy the contrast when she's older - I do, personally, like the contrast. If she was a fictional character, I imagine her to have been written as a little princess who goes on wild adventures for whatever plot-related reasons and learns life lessons along the way.
That is very sweet and specific imagery 💜
It's beautiful! I think it's probably too trendy for lasting power, though.
I think Arabella is beautiful sounding and it’s just a lovely name. Timeless to me, not trendy like other frilly, “Bella” names.
I love it.
I love it.
I like it. It seems stronger than Isabella but also more character-like.
As a person who loves frilly names, Arabella is too frilly for even me. But I've always hated 'bella' names.
Araminta is preferable.
I love the name Arabella. You could be Ari or Bella. I picture a strong girl.
I never liked it. It souns like a dated, Narnia-knockoff character name; Arabella and Lucinda and their brother Pip or Jip or something like that ... live in a magical Nursery with their Nurse and go walking in the Park before having their Elevenses.Also makes me think of a skin rash. Someone shows up to the doctor all blotchy and itchy and they've got a bad case of arabella or roseola.
I hadn't heard the name until last week. I love the meaning "yielding to prayer". I saw it reading about my family history. One of my ancestors came over on the boat Arabella with General Lafayette. I have been using family names as middle names but when I saw it I thought maybe I could use it. I don't really like many names that end in A as they sound too over the top. Usually I like Isabel over Isabela. But this one had me dreaming about a kid with this incorporated into it somehow. I also saw a Boat name while in Glacier National Park Emmaline and would love to use that name too but we have been using Biblical and family names so I don't think I will see either of these used on my children. I don't think I would like it as much if the meaning was lame or I didn't know of the family history
I find Arabella long and clumsy and too frilly by far. Arabel would be preferable. Same with Isabella. Isabel is much neater and tidier.
I love Arabella, it's frilly but still down-to-earth. It deserves to stay. I imagine this name on a quiet, nerdy girl who loves reading.
I used to like this name until I met an Arabella in real life. Unfortunately she was like every negative Arabella stereotype one could possibly imagine. I liked it less after that. It's great for a book character, but doesn't work for me on a real person anymore. All I can ever think of is that sour, spoiled, cruel Arabella now.I think Arabella has some lasting power. Wasn't it the name of a Stuart noblewoman or two? I seen to recall reading something like that. It feels pretty timeless to me.
It sounds over the top and prissy to me. I'm not really a fan.