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Help[Opinions] Re: Angel
in reply to a message by queenv
I'm so used to seeing Angel on boys it barely registers with me as a unisex possibility anymore; it's the 4th most popular name for boys in my state. They usually pronounce it like ahn-hel in Spanish and AYN-jel when speaking English.
I just realized none of the Angelas I've known have gone by Angel. They've all been Angie or Angela. Anyway, the female Angels I've met have all been short for something, usually Angelina, which is also very popular here. I also knew a woman years ago whose daughter Angel was an Angelica, and I work now with an Angelic, whose family calls her Angel. She's totally embraced the angel theme in office decor, too; it looks like heaven exploded in her cubicle.
Angel is a little like Alex for me. If it's going to be used as a given name, I think it's best for boys. As a nickname, it works for either, although I don't really like it. I worry some about Angel- names for girls. It's almost like you're tempting fate and asking for a hellraiser.
I just realized none of the Angelas I've known have gone by Angel. They've all been Angie or Angela. Anyway, the female Angels I've met have all been short for something, usually Angelina, which is also very popular here. I also knew a woman years ago whose daughter Angel was an Angelica, and I work now with an Angelic, whose family calls her Angel. She's totally embraced the angel theme in office decor, too; it looks like heaven exploded in her cubicle.
Angel is a little like Alex for me. If it's going to be used as a given name, I think it's best for boys. As a nickname, it works for either, although I don't really like it. I worry some about Angel- names for girls. It's almost like you're tempting fate and asking for a hellraiser.
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So how are you not tempting fate and asking for a hellraiser when you name a boy Angel then? Just wondering. I've never heard it used as a nickname, I thought Angie was more common.
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Perhaps you are asking for a hellraiser. Angel Clare was no angel, right?
More seriously, it's probably because I mostly see Angel on a boy as a Spanish name and Angel on a girl as an English name, and it affects my perception of each, just as I would view Jesús (he-SOOS) and Jesus (JEE-zus) very differently.
On girls, I sometimes feel like Angel is a very high pressure name, à la Chastity, holding a girl against an impossibly high standard of goodness, sweetness, and purity. It seems like too much--like a a set up for a long hard fall--to me, and that worries me enough that I'm reluctant to use Angeline, my great-great-great grandmother's name...even though she was a neat lady and I love her name.
It surprises me that you know many young Angies. I don't know any under age 25 or so, just as I don't know any young Angelas, and I would describe Angie as an unfashionable nickname, like Mindy or Sue. I mostly run into little Angelinas these days, sometimes called Angel, but most often called Angelina or Lina.
More seriously, it's probably because I mostly see Angel on a boy as a Spanish name and Angel on a girl as an English name, and it affects my perception of each, just as I would view Jesús (he-SOOS) and Jesus (JEE-zus) very differently.
On girls, I sometimes feel like Angel is a very high pressure name, à la Chastity, holding a girl against an impossibly high standard of goodness, sweetness, and purity. It seems like too much--like a a set up for a long hard fall--to me, and that worries me enough that I'm reluctant to use Angeline, my great-great-great grandmother's name...even though she was a neat lady and I love her name.
It surprises me that you know many young Angies. I don't know any under age 25 or so, just as I don't know any young Angelas, and I would describe Angie as an unfashionable nickname, like Mindy or Sue. I mostly run into little Angelinas these days, sometimes called Angel, but most often called Angelina or Lina.
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Ahhh I see. Yes, Jesus and Jesús are very different names to me as well. I agree that it's a high pressure name but I think it is for boys, too.
Oh but Angeline is really lovely and so much prettier that Angelina. It would also make a nice middle name. I actually don't know many Angies I just guessed that Angie would be more common as a nickname than Angel. I guess I just figured people who want to call their child Angel would just name her Angel instead of Angelina. I guess I was wrong :P
Oh but Angeline is really lovely and so much prettier that Angelina. It would also make a nice middle name. I actually don't know many Angies I just guessed that Angie would be more common as a nickname than Angel. I guess I just figured people who want to call their child Angel would just name her Angel instead of Angelina. I guess I was wrong :P
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