Find out how popular the first name Angela has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Angela by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Angela is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Angela being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 1,205 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Angela.

The history of the first name Angela

The name Angela has its roots in the Greek language and culture. It is derived from the Greek word "angelos," meaning "messenger" or "angel." The name gained popularity during the spread of Christianity, as it was associated with the concept of heavenly messengers or angels.

In ancient Greek mythology, the word "angelos" was used to refer to divine messengers who carried messages from the gods to mortals. This connection with divine messengers contributed to the positive connotations of the name Angela.

The name Angela can be traced back to the 4th century AD when it was first recorded in Christian texts and writings. One of the earliest known references to the name Angela comes from the martyrdom account of Saint Angela of Merici, a Italian religious educator and founder of the Ursuline Sisters, who lived from 1474 to 1540.

Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Angela. One of the most famous was Angela Merici herself, the Italian religious figure who founded the Order of Ursulines, a Roman Catholic religious order dedicated to the education of girls and young women.

Another prominent Angela was Angela Burdett-Coutts (1814-1906), an English philanthropist and one of the wealthiest women in the 19th century. She was known for her charitable work and support of various social causes.

In the literary world, Angela Carter (1940-1992) was an acclaimed English novelist and journalist, celebrated for her feminist works and magical realism style.

Angela Lansbury (1925-2022) was a renowned British-American actress, best known for her role as the writer and sleuth Jessica Fletcher in the television series "Murder, She Wrote."

Angela Bassett (born 1958) is an American actress and activist, recognized for her powerful performances in films such as "What's Love Got to Do with It" and "Black Panther."

The name Angela has been popular across various cultures and regions, particularly in Europe and the Americas. Its connection to the concept of divine messengers and its association with notable historical figures have contributed to its enduring appeal throughout the centuries.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Angela was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Angela, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!