Historic and Vintage Names · Baby Name Meanings
By Pamela Redmond · Updated September 2026
Across 4 pages
of 4
Hebrew
"my cover is God"
Castiel, which vaulted into the Top 1000 on the wings of the angel hero of the television show Supernatural , is the name of the Angel of the day Thursday. It may also derive some appeal from the…
Hebrew, Slavic or Irish
"pearl of wisdom; gift; or oak tree"
Though Dara was an (extremely wise) male figure in the Bible, this name feels mostly feminine to modern Americans. The Irish Gaelic version, Darragh, is well-used in contemporary times for boys.…
French diminutive of Angela
"angelic"
Angelique was the fastest-rising girl name of 2021, influenced by French-Mexican actress Angelique Boyer, who starred in the telenovela Imperio de mentiras ( Empire of Lies ). After a long run of…
Hebrew variation of Dinah or Adinah
"judged or delicate"
Dina is a 20th century version of either Dinah or Adinah, two Old Testament names not related to each other. Dinah was the beautiful daughter of Jacob and Leah, while Adinah or Adina was a male…
Spelling variation of Layla
"night"
A lesser-used spelling variation of Layla, Leila et al. In Jewish mythology, Lailah is the name of an angel associated with the night and fertility.
Italian
"from the angel"
This name obviously has the prefix De- that denotes "son of"—in this form it can mean either "son of Angelo" or "from the angel." D'Angelo is an American singer-songwriter and record producer.
Irish
"slender"
Cael is the name of the angel of the zodiac sign of Cancer and also of a warrior of Irish mythology. Its ascendance to the Top 1000 over the past decade probably has to do with its similarity to Cale…
Latin
"angel of Saturday"
This name of the archangel who protects those born under the sign of Capricorn is one of the most attractive and distinctive December baby names or January baby names . Cassiel is a little-known…
Arabic
"master"
Malika is an attractive multi-cultural name--it is also a pet form of Amalia in Hungary. Malika Haqq is an actress who is one of Khloe Kardashian's BFFs on Keeping Up With the Kardashians .
Spanish and Portuguese version of Hebrew Raphaela
"God has healed"
This euphonious and lovely name is an internationally appealing choice, that, like Gabriela and Isabela before it, is beginning to be drawn into the American mainstream. Also spelled Raffaella…
Gabby is a feminine name that functions both as a standalone name and as a familiar diminutive for Gabrielle, Gabriella, or Abigail. Derived ultimately from the Hebrew name Gabriel, meaning 'God is…
Spanish form of Ramiel, Hebrew
"the Thunder of God"
Variation of trendy angel name Ramiel that gets you directly to the fashionable nickname Remi. Thirty-five baby boys were named Remiel in the US last year, along with six baby girls.
Polish
"angel"
What a difference one letter makes - the somewhat tired, though still heavenly Angela, gets a makeover as sweet and subtle Aniela. Popular in its native Poland where it ranks in the Top 100, it is…
"Greece"
A son of Noah in the Bible who is also thought to be an ancestor of the Greek people and the guardian angel of Greece. An alternative to Jason or Jayden, perhaps.
"helper of God"
If you're seeking a biblical name somewhat similar to the popular Samuel but way more distinctive, this could be the one.
"of the bright sea, sea-bright"
Once a poetic Celtic name, that of the angel who governs the month of June, Muriel has for a time, become the mom or grandma of TV sitcoms. A Top 200 name from 1912 to 1933, Muriel might just be due…
Short form of Gabriel, Hebrew
"God is my strength"
Gabe ranked in the Top 1000 from 1880 until 1905, when it fell into obscurity. There are fewer than 100 boys named Gabe, just plain Gabe, each year in the US, compared with over 10,000 named Gabriel.…
Malak is an Arabic and Turkish name high on the popularity list in several European countries on the girls' side.
Breton, French, Hebrew, “chieftain; grace and favor of God"
Typically spelled as Amaël, this name can be a variation of the popular Breton name, Maël, which ranks in the Top 10 in France. Amaël itself entered the French Top 500 in 2021, and ranked at #337 in…
"the thunder of God"
One of the seven archangels listed in the Book of Enoch, Ramiel is considered to be the angel of hope, guiding faithful souls to heaven and watching over those who will be resurrected. He was…
