Anjela
Of Greek origin meaning "messenger of God" or "angelic".
Name Census estimates that about 558 living Americans carry the first name Anjela. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Anjela today is around 31 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Anjela births was 2005 (31 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Anjela. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
558
~ 1 in 614,255 Americans
Peak year
2005
31 babies that year
Average age
31
years old
2024 SSA rank
#12,232
Tracked since 1964
Popularity
Anjela: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Anjela from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 176 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 2000s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Anjela by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Anjela during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Anjelas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Anjela
The given name Anjela is a feminine variation of the name Angela, which has its origins in the Greek word "angelos," meaning "messenger" or "angel." This name was initially derived from the Latin word "angelus," which also translates to "angel" or "messenger of God."
The name Anjela gained popularity during the early Christian era, particularly in regions with strong Greek and Latin cultural influences. It was often associated with the concept of divine messengers or heavenly beings, reflecting the religious and spiritual significance of the name.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Anjela can be found in ancient Christian texts and hagiographies, where it was used to refer to female saints or martyrs who were believed to have been divinely inspired or guided by angelic beings.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Anjela. One of the most famous was Anjela of Foligno (1248-1309), an Italian mystic and Franciscan tertiary who wrote extensively about her spiritual experiences and visions. Her writings, particularly her "Memorial," have been widely studied and revered within the Christian tradition.
Another notable figure was Anjela Merici (1474-1540), an Italian religious educator and founder of the Ursuline Sisters, one of the oldest active religious orders dedicated to the education of girls and young women.
In the realm of literature, Anjela Carter (1940-1992) was an acclaimed African American writer and poet known for her works exploring themes of race, identity, and social justice. Her poetry collections, such as "Eye on the Feast" and "Memory Instructors," received critical acclaim.
In the world of music, Anjela Petrovic (1923-2011) was a renowned Serbian opera singer and soprano who performed leading roles in numerous operas and concerts throughout Europe and beyond.
Lastly, Anjela Duvallon (1904-1997) was a French actress and singer who graced the stage and screen during the Golden Age of Hollywood. She appeared in several notable films and musicals, showcasing her versatile talents as an entertainer.
While the name Anjela has evolved and been adapted across various cultures and regions, its roots can be traced back to the Greek and Latin origins, carrying with it the symbolic meaning of divine messengers and angelic beings.
People
Anjela + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Anjela as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Anjela: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Anjela?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 558 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Anjela going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 614,255 US residents.
Is Anjela a common name?
We classify Anjela as "Very Rare". It ranks above 85.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 582 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Anjela most popular?
The single biggest year for Anjela was 2005, when 31 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Anjela is about 31 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Anjela a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Anjela in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.