Is Angel for a girl okay to use?

[hazeleyes94]

Yesterday evening my husband suggested the name Angel in case we'll have a daughter. I was pleasantly surprised because he hardly ever suggests any names. I do sort of like it because I love the sentiment behind it, and I think it's a lovely meaning.

I googled it a bit and people on the internet seem less enthusiastic about it. Do you think it's fine to use or would we not be doing her a favour? I know I shouldn't care what people think but it's so hard.

On the internet people seem to think it's better used as a nickname for Angelica and other names but Angelina, Angelica etc. don't sound the same so I find using Angel as a nickname for them a bit odd (the first syllable is different).

If we'd use a longer form which one is best?

Angelina - is this too Angelina Jolie? We do like Jolie as a name, but people told us it's too associated with her, is Angelina as well? I personally don't want a strong celeb association.

Angelica

Angela - too dated?

Angeline

Angelique

Angelia

Thanks, and sorry it got way too long. Just so pleased my husband made a suggestion.

I mean OP, unless your DD actually looks, and is, angelic - she’s going to be on the back foot with literally everyone she encounters throughout her entire life.

She won’t thank you for it.

@KnickerlessParsons , no they're angels, but they are male.

I love Evangeline. Angel would work as a nn.

Can't stand names on girls like Angel, grace, joy.
However love love love angela as it my mums name so I'm biased. Yes it's very 60's.

Wait till you hear about little Mercy or Chastity... 🤢

I like it but worry it’s an omen of an early demise. All the angel variations are fine.

I currently teach two Angels.
The are both hideously behaved, and anything but Angels!

Angela is definitely due a comeback. Short and simple but beautiful and as close to Angel as you can get without actually using Angel (which has loads of disadvantages as mentioned above). The generation who most hear Angela as dated are not going to be your daughter's peers.

There was a little girl called angel in the year below my son at primary school. She was very naughty and it always amused me that she had a name like angel..

Sounds tacky to me

What is an angel supposed to look like?

Pale. Blonde. Thin. Tiny.

Just to say many Angelas call themselves Angel - so apart from the one BIL knows , & the one who did escape to the chateau - they were Angela and called themselves Angel . The one name ( I personally ) would not use is Joy. It's a lovely name but for me I had a friend who attempted suicide when we were early 20s - So I always think Joy wasn't the right name for her. THAT said she got rmarried and was very happy. Names can be very personal as to how you think of them

Like this, according to a Google image search. Basically all images returned for 'angelic child' are blonde, pretty, petite.

Biblical angels are large and terrifying, eg in Daniel “His body was like topaz, his face like lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and his voice like the sound of a multitude.” Others have 6 wings or 4 faces or are shaped like wheels. Not sure that’s what OP is going for either.

I lived in the US for a while and met an Angeli and an Angelin

(Pronounced Anjeli and Anjelin)

I liked them - and they do at least offer Lee or Elli or Lin as nicknames

I love it!

Angel is chavvy.

The biblical archangels, all male are;

Raphael, Uriel, Michael and Gabriel.

So yes Angel for a girl is incongruent.

I've taught an Angel. She wasn't.

Angelique or if you want celestial - Celeste, Astrid, Eden?

Lovely.

Angel Clare.

Angel in the Buffyverse.

Neither were girls and even if it was a girl's name it's a hard one to live up to.

The gender of angels has been much debated, translations of ancient texts and their interpretation differ.

I believe it’s generally now thought that they are unisex.

The angel Jophiel is commonly viewed as female.

I honestly don't mind Angel, I wouldn't choose It myself but I don't hate It. I like all the names people suggested too. My favorite Is Angela but I'm biased because I know someone with that name whos very special to me.
I don't think Angela Is too dated.