Meaning: Its source is angelos, a Greek name meaning "Messenger from God."

Languages: This girl's name is used in English, Russian and Serbian.

Compound Forms: Angelaina

Popularity: The name Angelina ranked 98th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 414th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

This name is highly rated in the 1990 U.S. Census popularity survey of all ages, but after 1960 does not appear in the state data listing the most popular baby names.

Narrative: Given its associations with divine Biblical messengers, one would suppose that Angela has been in use since ancient times.

However, name commentators have determined that it only came into extensive use in the 18th century. Since then it has gained steadily in popularity, peaking in the United States during the 1970s, but still making appearances on U.S. state popularity lists well into the 1990s.