Angela

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Angela

Gender: Feminine
Language: English
Etymology:
Angela is the feminine form of Angelus, from Angeles, from the Hebrew word meaning “messenger.”

History:
Angeles, a male name, was first used in the Byzantine Empire as a religious name. The feminine form was formed soon afterwards. Angela soon spread to Sicily, and thence to England and France. Angela has been in use in the United States and Britain from the late 17th century. It was very unusual at first, less so at the end of the 18th century, and not really common until the late 19th century.

Angela was originally, occasionally given to children born on the eve of St. Michael and All Angels.

Please see Angel for more information.

Pronunciation: ann-jell-ah.

Diminutives:
English: Angie.

Alternates: Angelia, Angila.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Angela Brazil (1868-1947)
British author.
Angela Thirkell (1890-1961)
English author.
Angela Carter (1940-1992)
British author.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Angela Georgina Burdett-Coutts (1814-1906)
English philanthropist.
Mother Angela Gillespie (Eliza Maria Gillespie) (1824-1887)
American religious reformer who encouraged female higher education.
Angela Davis (1944-)
American social activist.

Political Figures:
Angela Yvonne Davis (1944-)
Political activist.

Religious Figures:
Saint Angela Merici (1470-1540)
Founder of the Ursuline order.

Singers and Entertainers:
Angela Brigid Lansbury (1925-)
British actress.
Angela Bassett (1958-)
American actress.
Angela Gheorghiu (1961-)
Romanian opera singer.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.468 % named Angela
0.054 % named Angie
0.037 % named Angelina
0.035 % named Angel
0.017 % named Angeline
0.017 % named Angelia
0.009 % named Angelita
0.003 % named Angelea
0.003 % named Angella
0.002 % named Angeles
0.002 % named Angele
0.002 % named Angelena
0.001 % named Angelyn
0.001 % named Angila

Popularity of Angela:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 577th most popular.
1875: 650th most popular.
1900-1910: 212th most popular.
1910-1920: 195th most popular.
1920-1930: 247th most popular.
1930-1940: 246th most popular.
1940-1950: 175th most popular.
1950-1960: 106th most popular.
1960-1970: 21st most popular.
1970-1980: 7th most popular.
1980-1990: 27th most popular.
1990: 51st most popular.
1991: 57th most popular.
1992: 68th most popular.
1993: 73rd most popular.
1994: 81st most popular.
1995: 86th most popular.
1996: 90th most popular.
1997: 93rd most popular.
1998: 102nd most popular.
1999: 90th most popular.
2000: 79th most popular.
2001: 76th most popular.
2002: 82nd most popular.
2003: 103rd most popular.

Popularity of Angel, for females:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1960: N/A
1960-1970: 469th most popular.
1970-1980: 179th most popular.
1980-1990: 167th most popular.
1990: 185th most popular.
1991: 168th most popular.
1992: 189th most popular.
1993: 186th most popular.
1994: 182nd most popular.
1995: 178th most popular.
1996: 163rd most popular.
1997: 147th most popular.
1998: 143rd most popular.
1999: 125th most popular.
2000: 120th most popular.
2001: 109th most popular.
2002: 114th most popular.
2003: 121st most popular.

Popularity of Angelia:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1950: N/A
1950-1960: 654th most popular.
1960-1970: 325th most popular.
1970-1980: 381st most popular.
1980-1990: 1000th most popular.
1990: 523rd most popular.
1991: 867th most popular.
1992: N/A

Popularity of Angelita:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 919th most popular.
1910-1920: 905th most popular.
1920-1930: 601st most popular.
1930-1940: 530th most popular.
1940-1950: 615th most popular.
1950-1960: 718th most popular.
1960-1970: 797th most popular.
1970-1980: 902nd most popular.
1980-2000: N/A

Popularity of Angele:
Popularity (for newborns):
In France...
1900: 26th most popular.
1910: 36th most popular.
1920: 48th most popular.
1930: 69th most popular.
1940: 101st most popular.
1950: 135th most popular.
1960: 183rd most popular.
1965: 190th most popular.
1970-1990: N/A
1998: 185th most popular.
2000: 139th most popular.

Popularity of Angeles:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
2003: 926th most popular.