Expert: H Louise - 11/6/2003

Question
Hi.  I'm wondering what Angel's real name was back when he was human.  I'm pretty sure it was Darla who named him Angelus when she sired him, but I've never heard his real name mentioned.  I've missed a lot of episodes, being a recent fan to the show, so I'm just assuming this is something that's known.  Also, I know the master named Darla when he sired her, but was her real name ever told either? Thanks a lot.

Answer
Hi Ariela,

Welcome to the Angel fold! Ha. You won't be disappointed when you get to watch all the episodes you haven't seen yet. I hope you enjoy them. Anyway back to your question.

Angel's name when he was human in around 1753 (he was about 25-27yrs old), Galway, Ireland was Liam. We don't know his surname, and he doesn't mention it in any episode.

When Darla turns him into a vampire when she becomes smitten with him, Liam then crawls out of his grave, feeds then kills his family.
He then took the name Angelus from his little sister's assumption that her brother had returned to them as an angel. So she had invited him in and he slaughtered them all. Darla convinced Angelus/Liam him to kill his father  to show him what sort of man he had become. Then Angelus/Liam never got to win him over from his disappointment and shame of his son.

When Angelus was given back his soul in 1898, he gave himself the name Angel to distance himself from Angelus. He was neither human or truly vampire now so a different name was appropriate.

The back history of Liam and his father can be seen in 'The Prodigal' in season one of Angel.

As for Darla, she's around 400yrs old from colonial America. The master does name her Darla. But we never find out her human name, and she herself does not remember it.
So I guess we will never know.

This show likes to have these characters with just one name. You might have noticed the trouble with Angel when he has to go anywhere and they ask for his name and he ends up as Mr Angel. I suppose it keeps him detatched from normality as he isn't.

I hope that has helped, any more information or if you need anything clarifying, don't hesitate to ask.

Yours H Louise.