A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Ethel since 1880
Babies named Ethel per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Ethel's real moment was 1894.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 14,866 |
| 1890s | 31,453 |
| 1900s | 34,868 |
| 1910s | 63,662 |
| 1920s | 62,806 |
| 1930s | 31,582 |
| 1940s | 20,582 |
| 1950s | 11,544 |
| 1960s | 4,691 |
| 1970s | 1,499 |
| 1980s | 547 |
| 1990s | 272 |
| 2000s | 187 |
| 2010s | 198 |
| 2020s | 165 |
Meaning & origin
Ethel is a name that evokes a distinct sense of early 20th-century charm. After peaking as the 1894 top-ranked name, it fell out of common use for decades. However, since 2007, Ethel has been gently rising again, a revival that aligns with the current trend toward vintage grandmother names. Its Old English root meaning 'noble' gives it a simple but dignified pedigree. While not yet common, its trajectory suggests a slow but steady return to favor among parents seeking a name with historical weight and a soft, familiar sound.
Ethel is derived from the Old English word 'æþel', meaning 'noble'. It was a common element in Anglo-Saxon names like Æthelred and Æthelflæd. In the 19th century, it was revived as an independent given name, enjoying peak popularity in the 1890s.
Where Ethel is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Ethel” around the world
Where Ethel lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
25
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Eth, Ettie, Thel
Sibling names for Ethel
Names that share Ethel's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Mabel, Violet, Beatrice, Edith, Florence, Adell, Alberta, Alene, Berneice, Bernice, Berniece, Bette, Delma, Doretha, Doris, Dorris, Edythe, Elberta, Flossie, Gladys, Gussie, Irene, Lorene, Loretha, Mable, Madge, Maebelle, Mamie, Maude, Melba, Mittie, Myrtis, Myrtle, Pearlie, Phyllis, Rheta, Syble, Vergie, Vernice, Vernie, Virgia, Zella, Arletha, Buelah, Burnice, Cleda, Delsie, Dorathy, Dorthey, Estell, Fredda, Fredia, Gladis, Hildred, Idell, Jeane, Jennette, Johnsie, Lelah, Marge, Myrl, Myrle, Naoma, Olene, Onie, Phillis, Ruthe, Veola, Agness, Alleen, Averil, Berdena, Berdine, Bernece, Birdia, Blonnie, Ceil, Charlcie, Clarabell, Cledith, Clella, Clydie, Coretha, Desma, Doreatha, Eathel, Eather, Elfreda, Elmyra, Elner, Ersie, Ferol, Florice, Floye, Francies, Girtha, Gladies, Glady, Helyn, Hildreth, Idabelle, Idelle, Imagene, Jestine, Loetta, Luberta, Lubertha, Maebell, Margreat, Margrette, Maudell, Maudine, Maybelline, Maymie, Mennie, Mertice, Mettie, Odelle, Oletha, Orene, Oretha, Pearlean, Pecolia, Reather, Rozelle, Sydell, Thressa, Virda, Virdie, Weltha, Berdell, Berline, Bertice, Clorine, Editha, Edithe, Edwena, Elcie, Eletha, Ercel, Ercell, Floella, Florance, Gertrue, Gladyce, Hermie, Idamae, Jilda, Lafern, Lovelle, Luceal, Ludell, Lutisha, Macil, Maedell, Margurette, Matha, Maydell, Mazell, Melvine, Merdis, Merrit, Mirtie, Myrtha, Normalee, Opel, Shirely, Verdella, Wilsie, Earlee, Francess, Glayds, Merie, Rosell, Rubena, Runell, Alvine, Arthella, Arwilda, Athalene, Avice, Berda, Bessye, Bettey, Bettymae, Bonnetta, Clevie, Dulcy, Edwyna, Eldine, Elgene, Erdine, Ermel, Eunie, Eupha, Gaytha, Gladie, Gladyes, Idabell, Lealer, Lillar, Loella, Luceil, Ludella, Marg, Mercia, Nelsie, Oreatha, Penda, Recie, Rether, Rosezella, Ruthellen, Searcy, Verneice, Walsie, Wavie
Brothers: Arthur, Albert, Walter, Wilfred, Ernest, Al, Arnold, Bert, Buford, Burton, Cletis, Clifford, Clifton, Delbert, Dudley, Elmer, Ernie, Felton, Freddie, Gaylord, Gorge, Grover, Harold, Hobert, Hoyt, Irwin, Jimmie, Lavern, Lenord, Lester, Linwood, Loyd, Mearl, Rayford, Therman, Warner, Wilburn, Wilford, Willard, Arnett, Artis, Bernell, Burdette, Burrell, Clarance, Cleophus, Cloyd, Delroy, Delton, Deward, Dillard, Dolphus, Dorman, Durward, Edsel, Eldred, Elroy, Estill, Garold, Harrell, Leverne, Lyman, Manley, Montie, Mozell, Murl, Murry, Newell, Norvell, Oris, Parnell, Prentice, Randle, Theodis, Verdell, Verl, Verle, Wayman, Winton, Wyman, Armstead, Bernis, Buel, Bufford, Burlin, Burnie, Burtis, Clarnce, Clell, Cline, Colbert, Cornel, Deloy, Dow, Duard, Egbert, Elmon, Erle, Ermal, Estil, Eual, Euel, Godwin, Grafton, Guilford, Harrel, Harrold, Haskel, Hoke, Horton, Hulen, Hulon, Hurbert, Leman, Lenoard, Loyde, Manly, Manson, Melburn, Melford, Milfred, Morrell, Norvel, Othel, Plummer, Purvis, Raeford, Royden, Terril, Tolbert, Vearl, Veryl, Waddell, Waldon, Wilbern, Wilferd, Windle, Winferd, Woodford, Athel, Beuford, Blease, Bluford, Bueford, Burdell, Carthel, Chalmer, Cleston, Cliford, Comer, Crandall, Deral, Eldredge, Ersel, Ervie, Eural, Freemon, Garnie, Goodwin, Hargis, Harvel, Herschell, Hurman, Irl, Larnce, Lecil, Ledford, Leldon, Lenward, Littleton, Loman, Lytle, Mancel, Mansel, Maston, Murvin, Normon, Orbie, Ordell, Orlie, Percell, Press, Redell, Rollen, Shermon, Thurmond, Valton, Verbon, Vermon, Vernel, Virl, Wadell, Wilborn, Windel, Burlie, Elman, Garl, Jewett, Merlon, Rual, Arlander, Arvle, Burman, Burwell, Buryl, Carless, Carnie, Cleatus, Clerance, Cliffard, Cottrell, Cuthbert, Densel, Dewell, Doil, Duell, Earmon, Edgel, Elby, Eldrige, Elsworth, Eugine, Felder, Floyed, Gailen, Gilliam, Goble, Gurnie, Halford, Harbert, Harl, Hurshell, Julies, Landrum, Lc, Ledell, Leroi, Lorance, Loyed, Mearle, Merion, Merland, Milferd, Narvel, Noris, Normal, Ordean, Orvell, Orvile, Philmore, Raford, Roddie, Sargent, Thedford, Tildon, Tilford, Vernor, Welborn, Wildon, Willford, Wilmon

