Angel Unisex

Popularity: #62 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: AN-jel //ˈeɪn.dʒəl//

Origin: Greek; Latin

Meaning: Greek: messenger; Latin: angelus (messenger)

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Angel has its roots in the Greek word "angelos," meaning "messenger." This term was adopted into Latin as "angelus," which carried the same meaning. The transition into Old French as "ange" further solidified its use in the context of divine messengers, particularly in Christian theology.

The name entered the English language through Middle English, where it was used to denote both the celestial beings and as a given name, particularly in religious contexts. Historically, the name Angel has been associated with various significant figures and texts.

In the Christian tradition, angels are often depicted as messengers of God, with notable mentions in the Bible, including the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary by the angel Gabriel. This biblical narrative has been influential in shaping the cultural significance of the name, especially during the medieval period when angelic figures were prominent in art and literature.

The name also appears in various forms in different cultures, reflecting its widespread appeal and the universal theme of divine communication. Culturally, the name Angel carries connotations of purity, guidance, and protection, resonating with its etymological roots.

It has been embraced in various traditions, often symbolizing hope and divine intervention. In some cultures, the name is associated with specific saints, such as Saint Michael, the archangel, who is venerated in Christianity.

The diminutive form "Angelo" is also notable, particularly in Italian contexts, where it retains the same meaning and significance. Overall, the name Angel has maintained a lasting presence in various cultures, reflecting its deep historical and spiritual connections.

Fictional characters named Angel

The following list of fictional characters named Angel is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Angel is a fictional character from the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off Angel. He is a vampire with a soul who seeks redemption for his past sins while protecting those he loves.

Angel is a fictional character from the comic book series Angel. They are a central character who navigates the complexities of their supernatural existence while fighting against evil forces.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Angel, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Angel. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Angel was first seen in the United States in 1888.

Angel has ranked as high as #44 nationally, which occurred in 2006, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Illinois, and Arizona.

In the past 5 years the name Angel has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Angel is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Angel was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Angel (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
CA 1,049
22%
TX 1,012
21%
FL 302
6%
NY 203
4%
AZ 188
4%
IL 179
4%
GA 154
3%
NC 143
3%
WA 101
2%
MD 94
2%
TN 91
2%
VA 89
2%
IN 80
2%
PA 70
1%
OK 65
1%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Angel.

YearBirths
20244,964
20234,890
20225,098
20214,716
20204,524
20194,914
20185,064
20175,274
20165,561
20156,114
20146,313
20136,369
20127,024
20117,536
20108,776
20099,851
200810,356
200711,376
200611,602
200510,993
20049,516
20039,161
20028,192
20016,978
20006,306
19995,402
19984,772
19974,514
19963,912
19953,734
19943,477
19933,036
19923,049
19912,685
19902,406
19892,176
19881,828
19871,654
19861,651
19851,561
19841,418
19831,349
19821,442
19811,300
19801,418
19791,304
19781,249
19771,244
19761,139
19751,092
19741,111
19731,049
1972955
19711,001
19701,035
1969938
1968833
1967772
1966766
1965722
1964697
1963647
1962696
1961669
1960664
1959602
1958529
1957571
1956496
1955433
1954441
1953328
1952313
1951277
1950234
1949185
1948225
1947171
1946137
1945125
1944114
1943117
1942106
1941107
194090
193986
193891
1937103
193697
193594
1934119
1933100
1932125
1931107
1930166
1929131
1928136
1927131
1926130
1925122
1924112
192382
192290
192170
192085
191970
191855
191755
191663
191530
191437
191330
191226
191112
191013
190910
19089
19079
19006
18997
18965
18915
18905
18888