Unisex · #7,734 in 2026

Angelus

The Angelus is a Catholic devotion commemorating the Incarnation of Christ. As with many Catholic prayers, the name Angelus is derived from its incipit—the first few words of the text: Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ. The devotion is practised by reciting as versicle and response three Biblical verses narrating the mystery, alternating with the prayer "Hail Mary".

Current Rank
#7,734
Peak Rank
#3,044 (2003)
Total Babies
365
5-Yr Trend
Stable
👧 Girl peak #2,979 (25 total)
👦 Boy peak #3,044 (365 total)
👦As Boy Name
1999
First Year
2023
Last Year
2003
Peak Year
#3044
Peak Rank
365
Total Count
24
Years Active
👧As Girl Name
1912
First Year
1963
Last Year
1912
Peak Year
#2979
Peak Rank
25
Total Count
5
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Angelus

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

The Angelus is a Catholic devotion commemorating the Incarnation of Christ. As with many Catholic prayers, the name Angelus is derived from its incipit—the first few words of the text: Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ. The devotion is practised by reciting as versicle and response three Biblical verses narrating the mystery, alternating with the prayer "Hail Mary".

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
According to Herbert Thurston , the Angelus originated with the 11th-century monastic custom of reciting three Hail Marys at the evening, or Compline , bell. The first written documentation stems from the Italian Franciscan friar Sinigardi di Arezzo (died 1282). Franciscan friaries in Italy document the use in 1263 and 1295. The current form of the Angelus prayer is included in a Venetian Catechism from 1560. The older usages seem to have commemorated the resurrection of Christ in the morning, his suffering at noon, and the annunciation in the evening. In 1269, St Bonaventure urged the faithfu

The Story of Angelus

As a girl name

Angelus first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1912, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1912, when 5 Angeluss were born — ranking #2,979 that year. As of 2026, Angelus ranks #6,590 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 25 Angeluss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Angelus first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1999, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2003, when 31 Angeluss were born — ranking #3,044 that year. As of 2026, Angelus ranks #7,734 for boys with 10 births, with steady use. In total, more than 365 Angeluss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Angelus

Phonetically similar names — useful when Angelus is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Angelus

What does the name Angelus mean?
The Angelus is a Catholic devotion commemorating the Incarnation of Christ. As with many Catholic prayers, the name Angelus is derived from its incipit—the first few words of the text: Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ. The devotion is practised by reciting as versicle and response three Biblical verses narrating the mystery, alternating with the prayer "Hail Mary".
How popular is Angelus in 2026?
In 2026, Angelus ranks #7,734 among boys' names in the U.S., with 10 babies given the name that year.
When was Angelus most popular?
Angelus reached its peak popularity in 2003, ranking #3,044 that year with 31 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Angelus most popular?
Angelus has historically been most popular in California. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Angelus.
Is Angelus a unisex name?
Yes — Angelus is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 6% of Angeluss assigned female and 94% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Angelus?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Angelus include Hansen, Vonn, Dainel. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Angelus

Angelus is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1999 and has accumulated 365 births in the dataset. Angelus's peak popularity came in 2003 when it ranked #3,044. Use the chart and map above to compare Angelus's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.