Annabella combines Anna — from the Hebrew Hannah meaning "grace" — with Bella, from the Latin bella, meaning "beautiful." The result is a name that means something close to "gracefully beautiful" and carries the double warmth of two of the most beloved names in Western history. With about 14,837 SSA records and a 2014 peak, Annabella is the most elaborate version of the Annabel/Annabelle family.
A Name of Layers
Annabella is the Italian and older English form — predating Annabelle by several centuries. It appears in Scottish historical records as far back as the fourteenth century (Annabella Drummond, Queen of Scotland, died 1401) and in Italian Renaissance culture as a straightforward compound of the two most feminine classical names. Latin and Hebrew compound names that have this kind of documented historical use carry more weight than invented modern compounds, Annabella has a genuine medieval pedigree. Among nine-letter names, it is one of the most phonetically satisfying.
Annabella vs. Annabelle
The -ella ending is Italian; the -elle ending is French. Both are in use, with Annabelle being the more common spelling in American naming records. Annabella has a slightly more formal, Mediterranean quality, the -ella ending has more weight on the final syllable. Compare Annabella and Annabelle, the difference is subtle but real: Annabella reads as Italian and operatic; Annabelle reads as French and familiar.
The Counter-Reading: Horror Culture
The Annabelle horror film franchise, spinoffs of The Conjuring, has associated the name with a possessed doll since 2014. That association hasn't dramatically affected naming numbers, but it is a cultural context that children named Annabella will encounter when they Google their own name or introduce themselves to horror movie fans. The historical weight of the name, fourteen centuries of use, a Scottish queen, Italian Renaissance culture, vastly outweighs a horror franchise, but the association is consistent enough to be worth knowing.