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.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Angela has experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over time in the United States.
From the late 19th century to the early 20th century, Angela's popularity grew steadily but gradually. Between 1880 and 1900, the number of births with the name Angela ranged from a low of 7 in 1880 to a high of 107 in 1900.
However, Angela's popularity surged dramatically during the mid-20th century. In just over two decades (from 1953 to 1976), Angela became one of the most popular names for baby girls in the U.S., with births ranging from a low of 3,896 in 1954 to a high of 23,360 in 1975. This period marked Angela's peak popularity.
After reaching its zenith, Angela's popularity began to decline gradually but consistently throughout the late 20th century and into the early 21st century. Between 1980 and 2023, the number of births with the name Angela decreased from a high of 24,930 in 1970 to a low of 1,205 in 2023.
Despite this decline, Angela remains relatively popular today, as it consistently ranks among the top 1,000 names for baby girls each year in recent years. Overall, Angela's popularity has shown great volatility over time, with periods of significant growth and decrease, but still maintains a consistent presence among popular baby girl names in the U.S.
In conclusion, based on the statistics provided, Angela's popularity has fluctuated greatly over time in the United States, peaking during the mid-20th century before gradually declining throughout recent decades. However, Angela remains a popular name today and continues to be chosen for newborn girls in the U.S.