Ethel
Ethel was the 4211th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 34 babies. Its best year was 1896, when it ranked 6th; the most babies were born in 1918 (8,075). Over the last ten years it has moved up 4,918 places. More babies were named Ethel in the 1910s than in any other decade.
Meaning noble · Old English
Say it ETH-ul /ˈɛθəl/
- Rank in 2025
- #4,211 girls, up 722 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 34girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19188,075 babies
- Total since 1880
- 280,412babies recorded
What does the name Ethel mean?
Ethel is a short form of Old English names beginning with Ethel-, from æþele 'noble', such as Æthelthryth (Audrey) and Æthelburh, as Wiktionary notes. It was first used on its own in the 19th century and was very popular in the US around 1900. It is related to the Germanic names Adela and Adele.
æþele (Old English, “noble”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Adela, Adele, Audrey, Ethelyn.
See also: English names, names that mean noble.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Ethel', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
- Wiktionary, entry 'æþele', Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0; facts restated, no text reused)
Ethel popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 1,490 since 1880.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,211 | 34 |
| 2020 | #4,933 | 26 |
| 2010 | #8,397 | 14 |
| 2000 | #7,285 | 14 |
| 1990 | #2,578 | 46 |
| 1980 | #1,575 | 74 |
| 1970 | #689 | 228 |
| 1960 | #359 | 731 |
| 1950 | #176 | 1,602 |
| 1940 | #106 | 2,373 |
| 1930 | #65 | 4,101 |
| 1920 | #30 | 7,868 |
| 1910 | #13 | 4,146 |
| 1900 | #8 | 3,896 |
| 1890 | #7 | 2,718 |
| 1880 | #38 | 633 |
How popular is Ethel, counting every spelling?
Ethel has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Ethel?
34 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Ethel (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Ethel born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 247 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Ethel.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Ethel?
About 34,400 people born in the US named Ethel are alive today, with a median age of 78; half are between 69 and 85. That makes Ethel a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Ethel by state
How common Ethel was among girls born in each state in 2021–2025. In 49 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Ethel: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Ethel, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Ethel
What does Ethel mean?
Ethel means “noble” (Old English origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Ethel?
Ethel was the 4211th most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 34 babies. Its best year was 1896, when it ranked 6th; the most babies were born in 1918 (8,075). Over the last ten years it has moved up 4,918 places. More babies were named Ethel in the 1910s than in any other decade.
Is Ethel a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Ethel in the US.
Where is Ethel most popular?
In 2021–2025, Ethel was most common in New York (0.01 per 1,000 girls), followed by Texas and Texas.