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ArchivesRe: Origin of my daughter's name
in reply to a message by SEan Smith
It started out as a Latin adjective - orabilis - which means Able to be Prayed To, in other words, Responsive to Entreaties!
You will recognise the ora- segment, as it also features in words like orator and oration, and oratory, which is a small, private room for praying in. And the -bilis segment is just our Able.
Ora- became Ara- quite comfortably; the change doesn't mean anything; it just happened because people came to find it a simpler and more pleasant pronunciation. And the -la at the end is optional - you can also name girls Arabel - but it makes it look more feminine to some folks and makes possible nickname forms like Bella or Ella.
Nice name - she's a lucky girl.
You will recognise the ora- segment, as it also features in words like orator and oration, and oratory, which is a small, private room for praying in. And the -bilis segment is just our Able.
Ora- became Ara- quite comfortably; the change doesn't mean anything; it just happened because people came to find it a simpler and more pleasant pronunciation. And the -la at the end is optional - you can also name girls Arabel - but it makes it look more feminine to some folks and makes possible nickname forms like Bella or Ella.
Nice name - she's a lucky girl.
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Replies
Hi!
Arabella can be a form of Annabella as well ("beautiful Anna" in Italian) or can have the meaning "little Arabian woman" in Spanish. But the Latin meaning given by Anneza is the most common one!
Regards, Satu
Arabella can be a form of Annabella as well ("beautiful Anna" in Italian) or can have the meaning "little Arabian woman" in Spanish. But the Latin meaning given by Anneza is the most common one!
Regards, Satu
1
I do not wish to start an argument with any of the intelligent people on this board. I am noncontroversial. When I use my mouse to move up or down a page, I avoid pushing the scroll bar---instead, I gently pull it.
Arabella is a feminine name discussed in “The Dictionary of First Names,” by Alfred J. Kolatch, c 1980, p. 310. "From the Latin ara, meaning "eagle" plus the Latin bella, meaning "beautiful." . . . Lady Arabella Stuart (1575-1615) . . ."
Reg Niles
RegNMINiles@cs.com
Arabella is a feminine name discussed in “The Dictionary of First Names,” by Alfred J. Kolatch, c 1980, p. 310. "From the Latin ara, meaning "eagle" plus the Latin bella, meaning "beautiful." . . . Lady Arabella Stuart (1575-1615) . . ."
Reg Niles
RegNMINiles@cs.com
1