Angel
Girl name · #546 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Angel? In official American birth records, Angel has been tracked continuously since 1894, giving it 131 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 551 baby girls were named Angel, placing it at #546 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #284, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,267 girls born in 2025 was named Angel.
Babies named Angel per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 131-year story
Angel first appears in the Social Security records in 1894, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 2002, when 3,100 girls were named Angel — good for #109 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Angel against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Angel in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Angel is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Angel will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Angel is most common
Geography matters for names, and Angel is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Angel is most common in AL (0.9 per 1,000), SC (0.8 per 1,000), LA (0.8 per 1,000), GA (0.6 per 1,000), MD (0.6 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.4 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Angel is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Angel
Statistically, parents drawn to Angel tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Abby, Araceli, Marisol, Ariel, and Alyssa.
AbbyAraceliMarisolArielAlyssaAlexisNadiaAdriana
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Angel | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 551 | #546 |
| 2024 | 621 | #495 |
| 2023 | 589 | #515 |
| 2022 | 608 | #515 |
| 2021 | 651 | #482 |
| 2020 | 704 | #436 |
| 2019 | 787 | #393 |
| 2018 | 855 | #368 |
| 2017 | 931 | #348 |
| 2016 | 1,018 | #321 |
| 2015 | 1,123 | #284 |
| 2014 | 1,202 | #274 |
| 2013 | 1,228 | #263 |
| 2012 | 1,408 | #226 |
| 2011 | 1,478 | #212 |
| 2010 | 1,612 | #193 |
| 2009 | 1,882 | #177 |
| 2008 | 2,127 | #159 |
| 2007 | 2,302 | #152 |
| 2006 | 2,226 | #159 |
| 2005 | 2,389 | #143 |
| 2004 | 2,614 | #127 |
| 2003 | 2,892 | #119 |
| 2002 | 3,100 | #109 |
| 2001 | 3,080 | #104 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Angel?
In official American birth records, the name Angel first appeared in 1894 (over 131 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Angel a popular girl name?
Angel ranked #546 among girls in 2025 with 551 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #284.
When was the name Angel most popular?
Angel peaked in 2002, when 3,100 American girls received the name (ranked #109 that year). Since 2002 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Angel?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,267 newborn American girls was named Angel. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.