Dangela is a unique and distinctive name of African origin. It is believed to have been popularized by the Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie in her novel "Americanah," where she used it as one of the main character's names.
The meaning behind Dangela is not universally agreed upon, but some sources suggest that it may be derived from the Igbo culture of Nigeria. In this context, it could be a combination of two Igbo words: "Dani" which means "God answers prayers," and "Gela" which means "to rejoice." Therefore, Dangela could potentially mean "God answers prayers with joy."
There is not much historical information about the name Dangela beyond its appearance in Adichie's novel. However, since then, it has gained some recognition and usage as a girls' name, particularly within African communities and among those who have been influenced by Adichie's works.
In terms of pronunciation, Dangela is typically pronounced as "DAHN-jel-uh," with the emphasis on the first syllable. It has four syllables in total, making it quite distinctive compared to many other names.
Overall, Dangela is an uncommon yet captivating name that carries a hint of African culture and literary influence. Its unique sound and potential meaning make it a memorable choice for parents looking for something different and meaningful for their child.
The given statistics show the number of babies named Dangela born in the United States each year from 1967 to 2014. Over this period of time, a total of 366 babies were named Dangela.
During the early years, the number of births was relatively low, ranging between 5 and 9 per year. However, starting in 1986, there was a noticeable increase in the popularity of the name, with over 10 births occurring each year until 2004.
The peak years for the name Dangela were from 1987 to 1996, with the highest number of births occurring in 1996 (16 births). After this period, the popularity of the name began to decline steadily. Between 2005 and 2014, there were fewer than 10 births per year on average.
Despite the fluctuations in popularity over time, it is clear that Dangela has been a distinctive and unique name choice for parents in the United States over the past several decades.