The waterfall has been known as Angel Falls since the mid-20th century; they are named after Jimmie Angel, a U.S. aviator, who was the first person to fly over the falls. Angel's ashes were scattered over the falls on 2 July 1960. The common Spanish name Salto Ángel derives from his surname.

Angel Falls (Salto Ángel) in Venezuela is named after Jimmie Angel, a U.S. aviator who was the first person to fly over the waterfall and subsequently bring it to international attention. In 1933, while searching for a legendary "river of gold," Angel first spotted the world's tallest waterfall from the air. He returned in October 1937 with his wife, Marie, and two companions to attempt a landing atop the Auyán-tepui mountain in his Flamingo monoplane, El Río Caroní. The plane’s wheels sank into the marshy ground, and the group was forced to trek for 11 days through the jungle to reach civilization. Their dramatic survival story and Angel's subsequent claims made the waterfall famous, and it was officially named in his honor on a 1939 Venezuelan government map. A grounded historical fact: the indigenous Pemon people had known of the falls for centuries, referring to it as Kerepakupai Merú (waterfall of the deepest place). While the late President Hugo Chávez considered changing the name to honor its indigenous heritage, "Angel Falls" remains the globally recognized name for this 979-meter natural wonder.