Meaning & History
Anjelika is a Russian feminine given name, an alternate transcription of the Russian Анжелика (see Anzhelika). It is a variant of Angelica, ultimately derived from the Latin angelicus meaning "angelic."
Etymology and Origins
The name traces its roots through the Greek ἄγγελος (angelos), meaning "messenger." As a given name, Angelica gained popularity in Renaissance Europe, notably appearing in Matteo Maria Boiardo's epic poem Orlando Innamorato (1483) and later in Ludovico Ariosto's Orlando Furioso (1532), where Angelica is a beautiful princess loved by the knights Orlando and Rinaldo. The independent use of Angelica as a personal name dates from the 18th century.
Usage in Russian
In Russia, the name was introduced through various cultural contacts and literature, adopting the form Anzhelika (Анжелика) with the Cyrillic rendering of the French Angélique. Anjelika is a Latin-script transliteration of that spelling. Russian naming conventions often use such variant forms for names of foreign origin.
- Meaning: Angelic, messenger
- Origin: Russian (transcription of Анжелика)
- Root: Angelica (Latin angelicus)
- Usage regions: Russia, other Slavic countries, among Russian diaspora