MallowbyNames

Ethel

ETH-əl · The name Ethel means 'noble'.

2025 rank (girls)
#4,172
Babies named in 2025
34
Peak popularity
1894
2025 frequency
1 in 47,273 girls
Usually for
Girls
Trend
Rising since 2007

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.

2.7k5.4k8.1k1880192019602000Most births 1918Girls
Data table (by decade)
DecadeGirls
1880s14,866
1890s31,453
1900s34,868
1910s63,662
1920s62,806
1930s31,582
1940s20,582
1950s11,544
1960s4,691
1970s1,499
1980s547
1990s272
2000s187
2010s198
2020s165

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.

2020s
Fewermore per 100k girlstoo few 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

A parent animal hugging its little one, the personalized name page

E is for Ethel, our favorite little girl.

E is for Ethel…”

In a Mallowby alphabet book, Ethel's letter becomes Ethel's page: hand-illustrated, printed hardcover or paperback, made just for them.

Make Ethel's book

Books for siblings or grandkids? The second book is 15% off.

Questions parents ask

What does the name Ethel mean?
Ethel means 'noble', from Old English æþel.
How popular is the name Ethel today?
In 2025, Ethel ranked 4172nd in the US, with 1 in 47,273 babies given the name. Its peak was in 1894.
Is Ethel a girl's name?
Yes, Ethel is almost exclusively used for girls.