María de los Ángeles is a Spanish compound given name meaning "Mary of the angels," derived from a devotional title of the Virgin Mary. The name combines María, the Spanish form of Mary, with the phrase de los Ángeles ("of the angels"), referencing the Virgin's role as Queen of the Angels in Catholic tradition. This name reflects a common practice in Spanish-speaking cultures of invoking Marian titles, such as María de los Santos or María del Carmen.
Etymology and Origin
The name traces its roots to the Hebrew Miryam, via Latin Maria and Greek Mariam/Maria. The title "of the angels" connects specifically to the Virgin Mary as intercessor and protector, a concept popularized in Catholicism. The name María de los Ángeles is analogous to the Italian Maria degli Angeli and the Portuguese Maria dos Anjos.
Cultural and Religious Significance
In Spanish-speaking countries, compound names incorporating María are common as a manifestation of popular piety. The feast of "Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles" (Our Lady of the Angels) is celebrated on August 2, commemorating the Virgin's apparition to a humble woman in Costa Rica in 1635, where she was found on a rock surrounded by angels. A notable bearer of this name was Marjorie de Sousa as the character in the 1997 Venezuelan telenovela María de los Ángeles, produced by RCTV.
Notable Bearers
- María de los Ángeles de Mendoza (16th century), a Sepik native claimed as the Virgin Mary whom conquered Sepik based island deities show
- Kathleen Maria Engueñengam.
Related Names
The diminutive Marielos is commonly used in Spanish-speaking contexts as a pet form of María de los Ángeles.
- Meaning: Mary of the angels
- Origin: Spanish title of the Virgin Mary
- Type: Compound given name
- Usage: Spanish, Latin American
Sources: Wikipedia — María de los ángeles