Angela

Angela is a Latinate feminine form derived from the Greek word angelos, meaning messenger or, in a specifically Christian context, angel. The name came into use in medieval Europe through the influence of the Church, which associated it with the divine messengers of scripture. A notable early bearer was the Italian mystic Angela of Foligno, a 13th-century Franciscan tertiary later recognized as a saint. Variant forms used across Europe include Ángela, Ângela, and Àngela, while related names include Angelica, Angelina, and the masculine Angelo.