Thank you Donald Trump for not keeping us in too much suspense. He took it upon himself to announce his granddaughter’s name on Fox & Friends this morning.
Mrs. Jared Kushner has given birth to a baby girl: Arabella Rose.
Perfectly lovely, not too popular, chi chi enough for a Trump.
I speculated on my Facebook page that she might stick with an I theme. She herself is named for her mother, Ivana. Illeana, Ivançica, or another Isabella offshoot, Isadora would have been lovely. Perhaps they can save that one if they have another baby girl.
Arabella has already been riding Isabella’s coattails up the popularity charts:
It debuted in the U.S. top 1000 in 2005 for the first time since 1893 at an impressive 795.
2005- 795
2006- 645
2007- 650
2008- 655
2009- 447
2010-386
If this was a sleeper success story before, the cat’s out of the bag now. We see it fairly frequently in London Times and Telegraph birth announcements. In the U.S., it was Babe‘s given name on the soon-to-be-defunct soap opera All My Children (don’t ask me how I know that). She fits in perfects with the ultra feminine names of the moment: Adrianna, Olivia, Audrina. Love it but aren’t an Ivanka fan? Try going one step further to Araminta or perhaps Mirabella.
I see Arabella shooting quickly to the top 100, especially with this high profile birth.
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
I dig it – for them.
And if I’m not mistaken, I believe Arabella was the name of JFK and Jackie Kennedy’s daughter that was stillborn. Perhaps an unconscious attempt to link their family with the Kennedys? Hmmm…probably not, because I’m guessing not many people (including them) have heard about Arabella Kennedy…but still an interesting link.
Hahaha, we had the exact same thought at the exact same time!
Ha! Perhaps more people know about it than I thought! I couldn’t remember where I had heard that, but it very well could have been history class.
I’ve actually loved the name for years and this combo was at the tippy top of our list when our daughter was born {we changed it to Amelia Grace at the last minute – long story}. I first heard it in a history class on JFK {the firstborn child that he and Jackie had was named Arabella} and fell in love with it on the spot. I’ve love super feminine names and the abundance of a’s and the pairing with a flower is so lovely.
I think Rose is very common as a middle name, it would have been nice if she had been more daring there (Arabella Ivy?). Still, it’s a beautiful name.
Here in the UK, Arabella is considered rather a ‘posh’, ‘pretentious’ sort of name — hence its frequent appearance in the London Times and Telegraph. It may shake those associations off in the States, but it will find it difficult to lose them in the UK. Which is a shame, as it’s a fascinating name with a long and intriguing history.
Thank you Nook of Names for weighing in with the UK perspective! Invaluable.
I love it. Finally a celebrity with good taste.
my daughter is 12 and her name is Arabella, I love the name so much, i think it is beautiful
Ugh. Just what the world needs – another Bella. I think it’s entirely pedestrian and bourgeois all at the same time, but I didn’t really expect better from them.
I prefer names that feel more polished and crisp (like Ivanka
.) To me Arabella seems over-the-top “fluffy” and trivial.
I honestly thought Arabella was more popular than #386, with all of the Isabellas and Ariannas running around… Arabella feels like an obvious feminissima choice.
A perfect choice for the Trump family, upper class in a very girly way. Here in the UK, Arabella is a bit of a stereotype name – if you were going to parody a group of sloanes (none too bright, none too original upper class kids), the girls would be called Arabella and Miffy/Fluffly/some similar nickname. From a purely sound-based point of view, though, I guess it’s actually no frillier than Isabella (although I still personally prefer the more grounded Isabel).
And you’re so right Elisabeth, Arabella and Isadora would be perfect sisters! Actually, I love Isadora – perhaps I’m a frilliness hypocrite. So glad they didn’t go with Ivancica, though, I already struggle with them having an Ivana and an Ivanka in the same family …
Oops, just realised I repeated Nook of Names’s point – at least all you none UK-dwellers know it’s definitely true now!
But as I said, perfect for the Trump family – very girly and upper class, but also not shocking, especially with Rose in the middle. Who knows, there may well be more than one Arabella Rose at her WASP-y school
Gosh, I know about three Arabella Roses! It seems very ordinary, but it’s a pretty name.
Elisabeth, I would love it if you would include name meanings/history if they are unusual. Just a thought/request!
Arabella and Isadora – love them both! I prefer Isadora though. My husband pointed out to me long ago that Arabella sounds like a rash/disease, and that has put me off ever since!! (I think he may have been reminded of Rubella?!!)
I hear you Jane!
I was predicting Isabella, so Arabella wasn’t a huge surprise. I think it’s a welcome relief after the likes of Locklyn, Diesel, Bingham and Kase, and Arabella seems to suit Ivanka Trump and her family well, but I am very bored by all the Bella names, and like Harper Seven, find this name a bit underwhelming.
I do understand why middle names like Grace and Rose are so popular, as they go well with so many other names, but they are so ubiquitous as middle names now that I really wish parents would take the time to consider other possibilities…
I also would have loved to see her choose Isadora – maybe for the next baby…
My favourite celebrity baby name this year has been Jennifer Connelly’s Agnes Lark. I’m holding out hope that Selma Blair will also choose something worth getting excited about! Hopefully not long to wait before that announcement…
Oh, I don’t think Selma will disappoint! Agnes Lark is my favorite, so far, too. I’m usually bored with -bella names but have recently seen some that tickle my fancy again, some unexpected smooshes. Maybelle is still an all time favorite, but that would not have worked for them, I don’t think. Isadora would have been great, I agree.
Oh Agnes Lark. Those were the glory days, weren’t they?
I’ve long been surprised that Arabella isn’t more popular what with the tidal wave of -bellas and Arianna to to piggy-back. I agree that this should help it finally break the top 200 or 100.
And I agree that Isadora is ravishing and so underused. I desperately wanted my husband to consider it for this baby, particularly as his grandfather was named Isidore. But he doesn’t like it. Can’t win them all.
Oh Coll you had the perfect excuse with an Isidore in the family!!! I am dying to use Isadora but husband (ever the critic) says it sounds like “is a door” and has vetoed it. He is hard work!! Grrrrrrrr
I am in agreement with you, Siobhan and Kristen that Agnes Lark is the best celeb baby name of late… Come on Selma! Give us a goodie!
Your husband sounds like mine! He said a firm no to Anouk, because it makes him think of ‘a nook and a cranny’. Sigh…
My 10 year old is called Arabella Minnie and we call her Lella for short as we were not interested in Bella, after the Isabella explosion.
We also have another daughter Clementine Harriet.
With a third child on the way we are stuck for a girls name (sex unkown but boys name sorted)
If any ideas please feel free to inspire.
Sydney, AUSTRALIA.
Have you looked through the Telegraph names? Arabella, Minnie, Clementine and Harriet all appear fairly frequently there.
What about: Cecily, Verity, Theodora, Felicity, Ursula, Ottilie, Ophelia, Saskia, Delfina, Xanthe, or Raphaela? Let me know if you want to do a public post or need help privately.
I’m looking for name inspiration for baby #1–I’m pretty new to reading your blog so I’ve been sifting through all your old posts…I thought I’d mention here that I know of an old high school friend who had a baby in November ’11 and named the girl Arabella Charlotte. And yes, they call her Bella. Bit sad, really.