Angel
Girl name · #546 in 2025 · Uniqueness 62/100
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, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
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?
Angel scores 62 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Angel is most common
Geography matters for names, and Angel is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Angels were TX (75), CA (54), FL (37), GA (29), NC (23). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
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
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. It scores 62/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.