Arbella is a unique and beautiful name of Italian origin, derived from the city of Arbellula in the region of Liguria. The name has a rich history and a captivating meaning.
The city of Arbellula was founded by the ancient Ligurians, an indigenous people who inhabited what is now known as Liguria, Italy. The name Arbellula is believed to have originated from the Ligurian words "arba" meaning "river," and "ella" meaning "beautiful." Thus, Arbella can be interpreted as "beautiful river."
Throughout history, the city of Arbellula has been known for its strategic location along the Via Aurelia, a Roman road that connected Rome to Spain. The city was an important center for trade and commerce during the Roman Empire.
In medieval times, Arbellula became a significant feudal lordship and passed through various noble families. It wasn't until the 13th century that Arbellula came under the control of the Republic of Genoa, which ruled it until the 19th century.
Today, Arbella remains a fascinating name with a deep connection to Italian history and culture. Its meaning, "beautiful river," adds to its allure, evoking images of picturesque landscapes and flowing waters. Despite its Italian origins, Arbella is not widely used as a given name in Italy. However, it has gained popularity among English-speaking countries in recent years, particularly in the United States.
In literature, Arbella is perhaps best known as the name of Queen Arbella Stuart, a 16th-century Scottish queen consort who married King James VI of Scotland (later King James I of England). Her story adds an interesting layer to the name's history and significance.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Arbella has seen a varied but generally low occurrence over the past century in the United States. The earliest recorded birth was in 1908 with six newborn girls named Arbella. This was followed by a decade of sporadic appearances, with five births each in 1916 and 1921, and another peak of six births in both 1922 and 1929.
After a gap of nearly nine decades, the name Arbella reemerged in the early 2010s. In 2012, there were eleven babies named Arbella, marking the highest number of births with this name in the U.S. since the records began. However, this trend was not sustained, as the number of births dropped to five each in 2016 and 2021.
More recently, there has been a slight resurgence in the popularity of the name Arbella. In 2017, there were six births, followed by seven each in 2019, 2020, and 2023. This suggests that while Arbella remains a relatively uncommon name, it continues to be chosen for newborn girls in the United States.
In total, over the past century, there have been eighty-two babies named Arbella born in the U.S., as recorded by these statistics. Despite its low overall occurrence, this name has maintained a consistent, if small, presence throughout different periods of time.