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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Angel

41 replies

lowesakabe3 · 07/07/2021 11:23

Do you think this can be used as a girls middle name or, is it too sugary sweet? It is to honour a family member with a variation of the name Angel.

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IamnotwhouthinkIam · 07/07/2021 22:09

If it's to honour an Angela, I'd just stick with Angela personally (since it's a middle name, it doesn't matter than it's now considered a touch dated imo). But then I've never really seen the point of honouring relatives by changing their names. If it's honouring an Angel (of either sex), then I think it's fine - it's still considered slightly feminine sounding in the UK anyway imo despite Angel's traditionally being depicted as men (and it being a male name elsewhere).

Onlinedilema · 07/07/2021 21:05

I really like Angelina.

Brown76 · 07/07/2021 21:01

Like it a lot angela sounds dated

Yesyoucantell · 07/07/2021 20:07

It's very twee and as you put it, sugary sweet.

Angela is much more classic and had the same meaning.

DennisTMenace · 07/07/2021 20:03

I thought of Angel as being female long before I found out it was a Spanish male name. Like a pp I did spend my formative years watching home and away though. I absolutely love Anjali, which is an Indian girls name.

Purple21 · 07/07/2021 18:22

I like it!
Co workers daughter is called Angel and she really suits it.

Candyapple49 · 07/07/2021 18:13

I know a 13 year old Angel . It’s fine as a name for a girl , especially to honour someone .

AuntieStella · 07/07/2021 15:40

Alexis is a man's name exclusively in France, doesn't stop Brits and Americans using it as a girl's name

It does stop many Brits - it's never been a popular girl's name here. The US influence (even when its Dynasty) doesn't always override European resonance.

But it's fine to use a male name as a middle name. It would be less nice as a main name

Kanaloa · 07/07/2021 15:37

Honestly as a middle name who actually cares. If she hates it then she just won’t tell anyone that’s her middle name. I think if you’re not sure about a name the middle name is the place for it.

PattyPan · 07/07/2021 15:24

I wouldn’t say Ange is unisex in France. There were 207 boys called it in 2019 but only 11 girls, it’s definitely more of a male name (and it’s a masculine word).

inmyslippers · 07/07/2021 15:16

It's a lot to live up to

Marty13 · 07/07/2021 15:12

People are being ridiculous. So Angel is a guy's name in spanish ? Alexis is a man's name exclusively in France, doesn't stop Brits and Americans using it as a girl's name.

And Angels are unisex, not male. The name "Ange" (angel in French) is unisex too.

Angel works fine as a middle name for anyone, boy or girl.

Getyourarseofffthequattro · 07/07/2021 15:04

I know an Angel, doesn't suit her at all. But then i think of Angel strawbridge and i like it on her. So i would say it depends! Sorry thats not helpful is it!

PattyPan · 07/07/2021 14:54

@Pemba

And it does in no way compare to Tinkerbell really. Wink
Well no it’s not as bad as Tinkerbell but that was more at the commenters saying it’s fine but only as a middle name. It’s still their name! Regardless of the name I always think if you are honouring someone of the opposite sex you should give the correct sex name to the child. Like if my grandad was John and I wanted to honour him, I wouldn’t name my daughter John I’d call her Joanne, for example.
motogogo · 07/07/2021 14:45

I know a male Angel. Why not Angela? You obviously have doubts hence asking, Angela is obviously honouring the person you want to but also a conventional girls name

DuchessMinnie · 07/07/2021 14:42

I know a male Angel, but I also love it for a girl too. Reminds me of an extremely pretty character in Home and Away in the 80s.

Angel
Pemba · 07/07/2021 14:40

And it does in no way compare to Tinkerbell really. Wink

Pemba · 07/07/2021 14:39

Wow some people are having an overreaction to Angel as a name. Yes it's a male name in Spanish (pronounced differently) but in English it's surely unisex? There is a British actress, Angel Coulby I think, she was in 'Merlin', there's also Dick Strawbridge's wife in 'Escape to the Chateau'?, (although she was originally an Angela I believe). In fact it would probably be thought of as a bit girly over here. I think it's quite pretty, although possibly a bit much as a first name, nice as a middle. As the OP proposes. Angela seems a little dowdy in comparison.

Cannot for the life of me see why Angela is apparently fine, but Angel somehow indicates that the OP thinks she is 'naming a doll'. What rubbish.

CakesOfVersailles · 07/07/2021 14:36

I think it's fine as a middle name, though I prefer Angela for a girl.

MrsFin · 07/07/2021 14:33

@Blondiney

Lovely but only if it suits the baby.
But she'll only be a baby for a very short while. It's more important to decide if it's fitting for an adult
PattyPan · 07/07/2021 13:59

I really don’t like it, even as a middle name. I once met someone whose middle name was Tinkerbell and felt sorry for her, I don’t think middle names should be an excuse to use a name that’s otherwise unacceptable.

Blondiney · 07/07/2021 13:29

Lovely but only if it suits the baby.

Rathmobhaile · 07/07/2021 13:27

I think as a middle name it's fine - especially when it has a meaning for you.

MrsFin · 07/07/2021 13:23

Angels are male beings aren't they?

What about Angela?

MadeOfStarStuff · 07/07/2021 13:10

It’s awful

Angela, Angelina, Angelica etc are better

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