Plenty of new parents make a wish in hopes that our babies will turn out to be sweet little souls who smile and coo and sleep peacefully like a real-life angel — so why not name them after one? Baby names meaning “angel” do exist — and they’re not all religious, don’t worry.

So, yes, “angels” originated in the Bible. They are, after all, otherworldly beings who supposedly act as messengers for the Christian God. But these days, the word does not have to hold religious connotations; in fact, we’re guilty of using the term for just about any person — or particularly well-behaved pet — who embodies peace and serenity. And hey, isn’t that what we hope for our babies?