Ethel
Ethel is a girl's name of English origin.
Meaning
Noble.
Origin and history
Ethel is an Old English name derived from the word for noble. It was immensely popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, consistently ranking among the top feminine names in the United States. Today, it is considered a vintage classic and is rarely used for newborn girls.
Popularity in the United States
278,922 babies in the United States have been named Ethel since 1880. It ranks #141 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1936.
States where it is most popular
- PA (8.3 %)
- NY (7.4 %)
- NC (5.2 %)
- AL (4.7 %)
- GA (4.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 14,866 |
| 1890-1900 | 31,453 |
| 1900-1910 | 34,868 |
| 1910-1920 | 63,662 |
| 1920-1930 | 62,806 |
| 1930-1940 | 31,582 |
| 1940-1950 | 20,582 |
| 1950-1960 | 11,544 |
| 1960-1970 | 4,691 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,499 |
| 1980-1990 | 547 |
| 1990-2000 | 272 |
| 2000-2010 | 187 |
| 2010-2019 | 198 |
| 2020-2029 | 165 |
Famous people named Ethel
- Ethel Barrymore: Actress
- Ethel Waters: Singer, Actress
- Ethel Kennedy: Human rights advocate
Fun facts
- It originated as a short form for Old English names beginning with Æthel-, such as Æthelthryth or Æthelflæd.
- Ethel was one of the most popular girls' names in the U.S. during the late 1800s and early 1900s.