Angela
Angela is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Messenger of God, heavenly angel.
Origin and history
Angela is derived from the Greek word 'angelos', meaning messenger or angel. It became widespread throughout Christendom in honor of heavenly angels and various saints. In the United States, it was an exceptionally popular name during the mid-to-late 20th century and remains well recognized today.
Popularity in the United States
673,257 babies in the United States have been named Angela since 1880. It ranks #38 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #273.
States where it is most popular
- CA (8.5 %)
- TX (6.9 %)
- NY (5.8 %)
- OH (5.7 %)
- IL (5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 232 |
| 1890-1900 | 671 |
| 1900-1910 | 1,400 |
| 1910-1920 | 5,518 |
| 1920-1930 | 6,273 |
| 1930-1940 | 6,518 |
| 1940-1950 | 12,256 |
| 1950-1960 | 40,357 |
| 1960-1970 | 159,294 |
| 1970-1980 | 225,262 |
| 1980-1990 | 116,595 |
| 1990-2000 | 45,171 |
| 2000-2010 | 31,319 |
| 2010-2019 | 15,494 |
| 2020-2029 | 6,897 |
Famous people named Angela
- Angela Davis: Activist, Academic
- Angela Lansbury: Actress, Singer
- Angela Merkel: Politician, Chancellor
Nicknames
Angie, Ange, Angel
Fun facts
- The name stems from 'angelos', which originally referred to a general messenger before acquiring religious significance.
- Angela was one of the top ten most popular baby girl names in the United States from the late 1960s through the 1970s.