Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Anabella

Anabella is the fanciful Latinate form of Annabel, a name popularized by the Scots. Most people would assume that Annabel is derived from the coupling of two female names (Anna and Belle) when in fact it actually comes from Amabel, an old Anglo-Norman name which is an Old French variant of the Latin “amabilis” meaning “loveable”. The now-defunct name Amabel eventually morphed into Anabel and Mabel. Annabel became a particular favorite in Scotland and was confined there from the 12th century until very recently. In more modern times An(n)abel(l)(e/a) has enjoyed commonplace usage throughout the English-speaking world. There are several variants of this name depending on spelling preference (e.g., one “N”, “L” or two) or the number of syllables (three or four). The four-syllable Anabella is a more elaborate rendering of this sweet old Scottish lass.

All About the Baby Name – Anabella

Personality

OF THE GIRL NAME ANABELLA

The Three energy is powerful and enthusiastic. These personalities are cheerful, full of self-expression, and often quite emotional. They have an artistic flair and "gift-of-gab" that makes them natural entertainers. Their joyfulness bubbles over, and their infectious exuberance draws a crowd. The Three personality is like a child - forever young and full of delight. They are charming, witty, and generally happy people. The Three personality lives in the "now" and has a spontaneous nature. Threes seem to live with a bright and seemingly unbreakable aura that attracts others to them. In turn, they are deeply loyal and loving to their friends and family. Luck also has a tendency to favor number Threes.

Popularity

OF THE GIRL NAME ANABELLA

Annabelle is a name that came roaring back into the American consciousness in the mid-1990s when her revival became self-evident on the charts. Once a name becomes popularized in America, spelling variations are sure to follow. Not surprisingly there are now a total of seven variations of this name (which will no doubt cause spelling confusion). They are, in order of popularity, Annabelle, Annabella, Anabelle, Annabel, Anabella, Annabell and Anabel. The spelling of Annabelle and Annabella are by far the most commonly used (about 65% share of voice) while Anabella is given to less than 10% of the baby Annabelles being born each year. There’s no denying the prettiness factor of this name (especially the four-syllable versions), but wouldn’t life be easier if we could all settle on one or two spellings? We like Annabel best; it’s most true to her Scottish roots (it’s also how Edgar Allen Poe spelled the name in his famous poem “Annabel Lee”). The three-syllable Annabel sounds more spunky and lively, while the four-syllable Anabella is more feminine and girlish.

Quick Facts

ON ANABELLA

GENDER:

Girl

ORIGIN:

English

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

4

RANKING POPULARITY:

564

PRONUNCIATION:

AHN-ә-bel-ah

SIMPLE MEANING:

Lovable

Characteristics

OF ANABELLA

Communicative

Creative

Optimistic

Popular

Social

Dramatic

Happy

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Anabella

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME ANABELLA

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME ANABELLA

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Anabella


Popular Songs

ON ANABELLA

We cannot find any popular or well-known songs with the name of Anabella


Famous People

NAMED ANABELLA

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Children of Famous People

NAMED ANABELLA

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Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME ANABELLA

We cannot find any historically significant people with the first name Anabella