Angela is a feminine given name of Latin origin. Its meaning and history are deeply rooted in Christian tradition.
The name Angela comes from the Latin word "angelus," which means "angel." It was first used as a given name in the 15th century, but it gained popularity during the Renaissance period when many people adopted names with religious connotations.
In the Middle Ages, Angela da Foligno was an Italian mystic who had visions of angels. She became known as Santa Angela and is now considered a saint by the Catholic Church. This may have contributed to the name's adoption as a given name around this time.
Angela has also been associated with several notable figures throughout history. Angela Burdett-Coutts was a philanthropist in 19th-century England, while Angela Davis is an American political activist known for her work against racial injustice and prison reform.
Today, Angela remains a popular choice for parents looking for a name with spiritual significance or simply one that sounds elegant and distinctive. Its variations include Angie, Angelina, and Angela-Marie, among others. Despite its origins, Angela has transcended religious boundaries and is now used worldwide regardless of cultural or religious background.
The name Angela saw a significant increase in popularity over time, with the number of annual births fluctuating greatly. Initially, there were fewer than ten births per year from 1880 to 1896. However, by 1947, there were over 1600 births, and this trend continued, reaching a peak in 1965 with nearly 19,000 births. The popularity of the name Angela then began to decline, falling below 2000 births per year by the late 1990s, and continuing to decrease until recent years where it hovers around 1300 births annually. Overall, Angela has been given as a baby girl's name over 670,000 times in total since 1880.