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Baby names

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Original poster

Will Arabella date?

44 replies

Audres · 22/01/2026 12:12

It's on our list but worried about it suddenly becoming quite popular. I never heard it growing up at all. I know Peter Andre has recently used it so I know it's on trend. Will it date badly do you think, along with Ophelia, Luna etc?

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RecordBreakers · 22/01/2026 15:58

It definitely used to be an aristocratic / 'horsey set' name when I was a child. You wouldn't ever come across one in real life.

I think now, it is a 'fashion' name which will date her to this period, yes. I agree with @TheCurious0range re every 2nd or 3rd girl U8 here being some form of 'Bella' though, which would put me off the name.

Emanwenym · 22/01/2026 15:57

@ImSweetEnough , it's been around but there weren't many. I can think of one or two Ellas or Bellas (Arabella, Gabriella) my age and one Ella (Arabella) about my DM's age.
Collectively, the Ellie/Ella trend has been very popular over the past 25 years or so. Baby name explorer - Arabella shows steady use with a recent surge.

goingtotown · 22/01/2026 15:53

My neighbours daughter is Arabella she’s 12, her friends & parents call her Bella.

ImSweetEnough · 22/01/2026 15:48

I am 55 and it's been around all my life so, no.

YourWinter · 22/01/2026 15:46

Both Arabellas that I know are always called Bella. I know three named Isabelle or Isabella and they are all called Izzy.

Arabella is a lovely name. Luna is a dog’s name (but so is Bella).

Emanwenym · 22/01/2026 15:39

It probably was a 'posh' name in the 1980s. I don't think of it as a posh name now. It's probably a -Rose, -Grace, -Mae, -Rae ... name.

Abracadabra12 · 22/01/2026 14:29

Not especially but I think of it as being a posh 80s name à la Jilly Cooper

Emanwenym · 22/01/2026 14:22

@Audres , it won't suddenly become very popular, and there's a fairly reasonable chance she'll be the only Arabella in her group of friends.

What is likely is that her name will be shortened to Bella or Ella, and there are loads of those. Names like Ella, Bella, Isabella, Isabelle, Annabelle etc have been very popular for a long time and they will fall out of fashion.

If you love it use it.

BeaTwix · 22/01/2026 14:04

My mother wanted to call my Arabella in the late 70s.

Fortunately my father intervened as it was "too posh".

So it's been around for a long time, but the -bella names are currently over used IMO so might date. But lots of the classics - Katherine, Beatrice, Charlotte, Olivia - remain perenilly popular in the top 100 lists.

TheToteBagLady · 22/01/2026 14:02

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

DinoDances · 22/01/2026 14:00

I think it will date your child to this time frame, because it's got quite a steep rise and potential drop off, so most people named it will be of a certain age. Doesn't mean you shouldn't use it if you love it, but it is a cyclical name not perennially popular.

names.darkgreener.com/#arabella

Giddykiddy · 22/01/2026 13:34

I love it!

Rituelec · 22/01/2026 13:28

Most girls in my daughters year group are a varient of; Arabella, Anabella, Isabella, Isobel, Annabell

Idontknowhatnametochoose · 22/01/2026 12:50

It's a name from an Enid Blyton book - i think one of the school stories.

I don't mind it. Not one I'd choose but it's nice.

Anothermanechange · 22/01/2026 12:44

A name that dates tends to go from relative obscurity to becoming very popular very quickly and then it falls fast. Arabella is currently probably at its peak and will soon start to fall alongside Isabella.
However I don't think it's ever been as popular as Isabella and hasn't become saturated in quite the same way. Most names have a cyclical nature, it personally wouldn't put me off if I loved it.

TheCurious0range · 22/01/2026 12:25

Every second girl under the age of 13 here is Bella, they are all Isabelle, Isobel, Isabella, Arabella, but day to day every one of them is Bella it's all you hear, it's ubiquitous. So I wouldn't or if you do call her Ari not Bella

bigsoftcocks · 22/01/2026 12:23

I think you are actually asking will my child be unique if I choose it?

it’s already dated in my view but it’s not a bad name.

Original poster
Audres · 22/01/2026 12:22

As in names that suddenly become popular that weren't before. Like Sandra, Barbara, Angela etc. Names that are of their time.

OP posts:
translated · 22/01/2026 12:18

how does a name date? and badly at that