Gender: Feminine
Origin: Latin
Meaning: alter of the sky
Pronunciation: ah-rah-THE-lee (Spanish), ah-rah-SE-lee (Latin American Spanish)
The name is composed of the Latin elements, ara (alter) and coeli (sky).
The name caught on in the Spanish-speaking world due to an epithet to the Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señore de Araceli, revered as the patroness of Lucena Spain. There is also a place in Italy which bears the same name.
The name is currently the 821st most popular female name in the United States (2010). Another form is Arcelia.
Sources: