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Angel vs Diego

Which is more popular?
Angel is more popular than Diego today: about 4,757 US babies were given the name Angel in 2025, compared with 2,351 named Diego.
AngelDiego
Meaning Angel, messenger uncertain; linked to James/Didacus
Origin Spanish spanish
Gender Boy Boy
Pronunciation AHN-hel dee-EH-go
Syllables 2 2
First appeared18881887
Peak year2006 (11,602)2006 (8,403)
In 20254,7572,351
TrendDecliningDeclining
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Angel Diego
1900192019401960198020002020

Source: US Social Security Administration.

Births by decade

DecadeAngelDiego
2020s 28,990 16,414
2010s 62,959 33,386
2000s 94,334 56,041
1990s 36,990 13,459
1980s 15,798 3,902
1970s 11,178 1,244
1960s 7,404 633
1950s 4,224 350
1940s 1,377 224
1930s 1,088 188
1920s 1,089 197
1910s 391 112
1900s 34 5
1890s 22 0
1880s 8 5

What does Angel mean?

Angel comes from the Greek angelos, “messenger,” and the Latin angelus. It is common for boys in Spanish-speaking cultures (Ángel) and used for girls in English.

What does Diego mean?

A Spanish name of genuinely disputed origin. Traditionally explained as a short form of Santiago (Sant-Yago, 'Saint James', from Hebrew Jacob), but many scholars now derive it instead from the Latin Didacus — itself possibly from the Greek didache 'teaching'. The two theories remain unresolved, so any single 'meaning' should be treated with caution.

Frequently asked questions

Is Angel or Diego more popular?

Angel is more popular than Diego today: about 4,757 US babies were given the name Angel in 2025, compared with 2,351 named Diego.

What is the difference between Angel and Diego?

Angel means Angel, messenger (Spanish origin), while Diego means uncertain; linked to James/Didacus (spanish origin).

Which name is older, Angel or Diego?

In US records, Angel first appears in 1888 and Diego in 1887, so Diego has the longer recorded history.