Evangeline

Today's name: Evangeline
Or try Evangelina, Evangela, or Evangelista
The male form in Greece is Evangelos

Pronunciation: ee-VAN-jel-een, ev-AN-jel-een, and occasionally ev-AN-jel-ine (as in Caroline)
Although emphasis can be stressed on the "gel" syllable instead, and even the "line" syllable

Potential nicknames: Evie, Eva, Evan, Vana, Lina, Angie, Angel, Gilly

Origin: Greek (and Cajun/Acadian), meaning "bearer of good news." It was invented by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow for his Acadian epic poem, "Evangeline," although the events of the poem really happened in reality during the Acadian Expulsion. Evangeline derives from the Greek word euangelion, evangel, the term for the gospels, and Latin evangelium.

Popularity: In 2010 there were 20 baby girls named Evangaline, 12 Evangelene, 30 Evangelia, 9 Evangelin, 188 Evangelina, 953 Evangelin,28 Evangelyn, 8 Evangelynn and 953 Evangeline, ranking at #333, her highest ever until 2011, rising to #286 with 1,099 births.

Fun fact: (1) Actress Evangeline Lilly, born Nicole Evangeline Lilly, who named her baby Kahekili, which is Hawaiian, meaning "the thunder." This actress is part of the reason for Evangeline growing in popularity as a baby name. (2) Salvation Army leader Evangeline Booth. (3) Evangeline was also used in "Uncle Tom's Cabin." (4) Evangeline is a name from Disney's most recent movie "The Princess and the Frog." (5) There is an Evangeline, Louisiana and an Evangeline, New Brunswick, Canada.