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The short answer
Evangeline is a feminine name meaning "good news", which Behind the Name derives from Greek eu ("good") and angelma ("news, message"). Behind the Name says it "was (first?) used by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his 1847 epic poem Evangeline", hedging on whether the poem was the very first use, and notes that it also appears in Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852) as the full name of the character Eva. Two English pronunciations are given, ending in -leen or -line. Evangelina is listed as a variant. In the United States Evangeline ranked #147 for girls in 2025, according to the Social Security Administration.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives Evangeline as meaning "'good news' from Greek εὖ (eu) meaning 'good' and ἄγγελμα (angelma) meaning 'news, message'", and lists the root as euangelos. On its history the entry is careful: the name "was (first?) used by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his 1847 epic poem Evangeline", the question mark being Behind the Name's own, and "also appears in Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852) as the full name of the character Eva". Behind the Name's Eva entry confirms the same detail from the other side, describing Little Eva "whose real name is in fact Evangeline". The entry lists Evangelina as a variant and gives related forms in other languages: Evangeliya (Bulgarian), Evangelia and Evi (Greek), Evangelija and Vangelija (Macedonian), Evangelista (Portuguese) and Evangelina, Evangelista and Lina (Spanish).
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Greek | eu (εὖ) | good |
| Greek | angelma (ἄγγελμα) | news, message |
| Greek | euangelos | root listed by Behind the Name (bringer of good news; gloss of this compound not given on the entry) |
Popularity
Evangeline ranked #147 for girls in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration); Behind the Name reports the same figure. The name's use as a given name dates, per Behind the Name, to Longfellow's 1847 poem, so it has an American literary pedigree. No other national rankings were consulted for this draft.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #147 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Evi, Lina
Variants: Evangelina
Related names: Eva, Evangelia, Evangelista, Evangeliya, Vangelija, Angela, Angelina
What the name feels like
Evangeline is long, romantic and literary: four syllables, a built-in short form in Eva or Evie, and a 19th-century poetic origin that gives it an antique feel without an actual medieval history. Its meaning, "good news", makes it a name parents often choose for its message as much as its sound.
Style tags: literary, romantic, four syllables, Greek, meaning-driven, 19th-century
Editorial interpretation: These style impressions and the name suggestions below are editorial opinion, not linguistic fact. Of the nicknames listed, Evi and Lina are the Greek and Spanish short forms given by Behind the Name; Eva and Evie are natural short forms suggested by the Uncle Tom's Cabin link rather than documented diminutives. The claim that parents choose it for its meaning is editorial.
If you like this name
Names with Evangeline's Greek 'angel' element, its Eva- opening or its long romantic shape.
Similar by meaning
Similar by sound
Similar by style
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Evangeline mean?
Evangeline means "good news". Behind the Name derives it from Greek eu ("good") and angelma ("news, message").
Where does the name Evangeline come from?
As a given name it appears to be a 19th-century literary creation. Behind the Name says it was (possibly first) used by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in his 1847 poem Evangeline and that it is the full name of the character Eva in Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin (1852).
How do you pronounce Evangeline?
Behind the Name gives two English pronunciations: i-VAN-jə-leen (/ɪ.ˈvæn.d͡ʒə.ˌlin/) and i-VAN-jə-line (/ɪ.ˈvæn.d͡ʒə.ˌlaɪn/).
Is Evangeline a popular name?
Evangeline ranked #147 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Evangeline — supports etymology ('good news'), Longfellow 1847 poem, Uncle Tom's Cabin, pronunciations, variant Evangelina, other-language forms.
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Eva — supports Little Eva's full name being Evangeline.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
