Unisex name · Greek
Angel
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: heavenly messengerAngel is a gender-neutral name that comes from Greek and means "heavenly messenger". It is used in English and Spanish.
- Meaning
- Heavenly messenger
- Origin
- Greek
- Gender
- Unisex
- US rank
- #546 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Angel
As a gender-neutral name, Angel comes from Greek and means "heavenly messenger". It is used in English.
As a boy's name, Angel comes from Greek and means "angel, messenger". It is used in Spanish. In Spanish it is spelled Ángel.
In Spanish, say AHN-hel. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Angel is also a surname: the 1,475th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 23,588 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Angel on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Angel on 4 lists.
“For someone who is kind to absolutely everyone”
From Nicknames for girlfriend, classic pet names for girlfriend
“Heavenly messenger; via Latin Angelus from Greek angelos. Unisex”
From Angelic names, angelic names for boys
“Arrives exactly when things look worst”
From Funny medic names, medic nicknames
“Messenger, angel; Greek. Say AHN-hel”
From Mexican boy names, classic Mexican male names
How popular is Angel?
In 2025, 551 girls and 4,757 boys in the US were named Angel.
As a girl’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #546
- 551 babies, 343 per million girls
- Best rank
- #104 in 2001
- Most babies: 3,100 in 2002
- Babies since 1894
- At least 100,288
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 2 per million |
| 1900s | 6 per million |
| 1910s | 9 per million |
| 1920s | 14 per million |
| 1930s | 15 per million |
| 1940s | 26 per million |
| 1950s | 57 per million |
| 1960s | 248 per million |
| 1970s | 1,088 per million |
| 1980s | 974 per million |
| 1990s | 1,083 per million |
| 2000s | 1,377 per million |
| 2010s | 665 per million |
| 2020s | 383 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #321 | #348 | #369 | #393 | #436 | #482 | #515 | #515 | #496 | #546 |
As a boy’s name
- US rank in 2025
- #67
- 4,757 babies, 2,785 per million boys
- Best rank
- #31 in 2006
- 11,602 babies that year
- Babies since 1888
- At least 265,886
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 7 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 19 per million |
| 1900s | 25 per million |
| 1910s | 59 per million |
| 1920s | 99 per million |
| 1930s | 103 per million |
| 1940s | 92 per million |
| 1950s | 209 per million |
| 1960s | 384 per million |
| 1970s | 677 per million |
| 1980s | 856 per million |
| 1990s | 1,899 per million |
| 2000s | 4,726 per million |
| 2010s | 3,348 per million |
| 2020s | 2,797 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #70 | #71 | #72 | #73 | #76 | #67 | #62 | #62 | #63 | #67 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names spelled like Angel
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
Names with a similar meaning
- CelesteHeavenly, of the sky (Latin, girl)
- DianaDivine, heavenly (Latin, girl)
- AngelinaMessenger (Greek, girl)
- CelestinoHeavenly (Latin, boy)
- AngelineAngel, messenger (Greek, girl)
- CelestinaHeavenly (Latin, girl)
- CelestineHeavenly (Latin, girl)
- LeilaniHeavenly flowers; royal child (Hawaiian, girl)
- MalachiMy messenger (Hebrew, boy)
- AingealAngel, messenger (Greek, girl)
Middle names for Angel
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More names from Greek
- AlexanderDefender of men (Greek, boy)
- AlexandraDefender of men (Greek, girl)
- LucasMan from Lucania (Greek, boy)
- ChristianFollower of Christ (Greek, boy)
- ElenaForm of Helen, probably from Greek torch (Greek, girl)
- IrenePeace, tranquility (Greek, girl)
- IrisA rainbow (Greek, girl)
- LeonA lion (Greek, boy)
- SofiaWisdom, skill (Greek, girl)
- SophieWisdom, skill (Greek, girl)
Angel: common questions
What does the name Angel mean?
Angel comes from Greek and means "heavenly messenger". It also has another origin: "angel, messenger" from Greek.
Is Angel a boy or girl name?
Angel is used for both boys and girls. In 2025, 551 girls and 4,757 boys in the US were named Angel, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Angel come from?
Angel comes from Greek and means "heavenly messenger". Today it is used in English and Spanish.
How popular is the name Angel?
Angel ranked #546 in the US in 2025, with 551 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What names are similar to Angel?
Names spelled like Angel include Angela, Ansel, Anael, Ange and Angèle.
What middle names go with Angel?
Middle names that flow well with Angel include Basil, Brooke, Constance, Elliott and Jeremiah. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.