Recent in Baby
When Baby Resists SolidsWhen Baby Resists SolidsBaby Biting TipsBaby Biting Tips5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair Injuries5 Tips To Help Prevent Highchair InjuriesWhen Baby and Pet MeetWhen Baby and Pet MeetTreatments for ColicTreatments for ColicBaby Milestones – The First YearBaby Milestones – The First YearTips for Relieving Teething PainTips for Relieving Teething PainBenefits of Making Your Own Baby FoodBenefits of Making Your Own Baby Food

Home › Baby Names Directory › Angel

Angel

♀ Girl

Pronounced AYN-jul /ˈeɪn.dʒəl/High

Meaning: Messenger; from Greek angelos, 'one who brings a message,' applied in Christian tradition to divine messengersHigh

In 30 seconds: A timeless Greek-origin name meaning 'messenger,' used in the Christian tradition for divine messengers. It has ranked on U.S. charts for over a century and crosses cultural boundaries comfortably.
💕 Browse more names
Origin HighGreek, Latin
MeaningMessenger; from Greek angelos, 'one who brings a message,' applied in Christian tradition to divine messengers
U.S. rank (2025)#546 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births551 girls (0.03% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2002
Total births (all-time)≈ 100,266

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200218942025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Angel derives from the Greek angelos (messenger, envoy), which was adopted into Latin as angelus and into early Christian vocabulary as the word for a divine messenger. The name entered European use in the medieval period through Christian piety, first in Spanish-speaking and then broader Catholic communities.

In the United States, Angel has been a consistent chart presence for girls since the mid-20th century, peaking in the 1980s–1990s. It remains widely used across Hispanic, African American, and general American communities, valued for its spiritual warmth and cross-cultural ease.

Did you know? The Greek word angelos simply meant 'messenger' or 'envoy' in secular use — it was early Christian writers who gave it the heavenly specialization we now think of as primary.
Overall data confidence 95%
Behind the Name — Angel — etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

AngelaAngelinaAngelica

Nicknames

Angie

Famous Bearers

  • ★Angel Reese (2002-)
    American WNBA basketball player and NCAA champion
  • ★Angel Olsen (1987-)
    American indie singer-songwriter
  • ★Angel Haze (1991-)
    American rapper and singer

If you like Angel…

Seraphina— angelic-theme name drawn from the highest order of heavenly beings
Celeste— spiritual celestial name with the same timeless devotional feel
Divine— virtue/spiritual concept name in the same devotional vein
Grace— classic virtue name with deep Christian resonance
Heaven— explicitly spiritual concept name popular in similar communities

Explore names like Angel

By themegreekunisexclassicspiritualchristian
By meaningGod / DivineWisdomAngel

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Angel mean?

Angel means 'messenger,' from Greek angelos. In Christian tradition it refers specifically to divine messengers.

How do you pronounce Angel?

It's said AYN-jul — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Angel a boy or girl name?

Angel is used for both sexes; it charts for girls in U.S. data and has a long history as a male name in Spanish-speaking cultures.

How popular is Angel?

Angel ranked #498 for U.S. girls in 2024.

💬 Ask Nia