Angel: Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, & Inspiration

Updated February 15, 2024

Table of contents

Girl name origins & meanings

Greek : Heavenly messenger

Girl name variations

Boy name origins & meanings

English : Messenger

What does Angel mean and stand for?

The name Angel is of Spanish and English origin and means "angel." A popular unisex name, Angel derives from the medieval Latin masculine name Angelus. Angelus was derived from the name Angelos, the heavenly creature, meaning "messenger").

Syllables: 2

Boy name variations

How Popular Is The Name Angel

Family name origins & meanings

English : from Middle English angel ‘angel’ (from Latin angelus), probably applied as a nickname for someone of angelic temperament or appearance or for someone who played the part of an angel in a pageant. As a North American surname it may also be an Americanized form of a cognate European surname, as for example Italian Angelo, Rumanian Anghel, Czech Anděl, or Hungarian Angyal.
German : ethnic name for a member of a Germanic people on the Jutland peninsula; members of this tribe invaded eastern and northern Britain in the 5th–6th centuries and gave their name to England. See Engel.
Slovenian (eastern Slovenia) : from the Latin personal name Angelus.

Famous people who gave their babies this name

Melanie Brown

Popularity

According to Social Security Administration data, Angel has been consistently popular, only recently losing a spot in the top 50 in 2011, but maintaining in the top 100 where it has for the last two decades.

However, it is the 12th most popular name on FamilyEducation.com.

According to Google search data analysis, in the last five years Angel was at its peak popularity in July 2020.

Angel is a popular name in the Latino community, but has recently gained popularity throughout entertainment. The name has been given to characters in Dexter, Tess of the D'Urbervilles, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Namesakes of Angel include actress Angel Aquino, actress Angel Locsin, and Ángel Di María.