Angela

Angela - A very unique female name

Angela appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #250. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Angela and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Angela? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Angela. The baby girl name Angela was given to 730 baby girls in 2025, ranking #408 on the national girl baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 1,786 baby girls were given this name - making this a very unique female name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Angela peaked in popularity 52 years ago in 1974 on position 5.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Angela, 1-5?

Angela is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Angela is currently topping the baby name charts in Delaware at position #173 - and is the least popular in Ohio at position #748.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Angela is where you live.

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Angela origin and meaning

Greek, via Latin

Feminine form of Angelus, from Greek angelos, 'messenger, angel'

Angela spread as a Christian name meaning 'angel' and was enormously popular in the 1970s, peaking in 1971. It has fallen steadily to #408 in 2025, so today it reads as a parent- or grandparent-generation name.

Attested etymology

Angela is a 6 letter name with 3 syllables.

To see famous people named Angela, pop culture references for the name Angela and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Angela

We've found the following names that sound similar to Angela, sorted by popularity.

Angelina / Angel / Angelica / Angeline / Angelique / Angelia / Ainsley / Ansley / Angelita / Anjali /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Angela

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Angela a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique female name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Angela?

3 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

AN-jeh-luh · /ˈændʒələ/

Around the world

• Angela (Italian) — Used as-is, pronounced AHN-jeh-lah
• Ángela (Spanish) — Spanish form, with accent
• Angela (German) — Used as-is in German

Spellings and nicknames

• Angella — Respelling

Nicknames: AngieAngAngel

Famous bearers

• Angela Bassett — Actress known for What's Love Got to Do with It and Black Panther (b. 1958) Contemporary
• Angela Merkel — Chancellor of Germany 2005–2021 (b. 1954) Contemporary
• Angela Lansbury — Actress known for Murder, She Wrote (1925–2022) Contemporary

Style

ClassicInternational

Why parents choose it

Families still choose it to honour an Angela or for its clear 'angel' meaning.

Worth knowing

• Its 1970s peak dates it strongly, and Angie as a nickname feels equally of that era to many ears.