Holding steady.
Popularity of Ethelyn since 1880
Babies named Ethelyn per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Ethelyn's real moment was 1911.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 142 |
| 1890s | 241 |
| 1900s | 370 |
| 1910s | 1,100 |
| 1920s | 1,250 |
| 1930s | 626 |
| 1940s | 373 |
| 1950s | 226 |
| 1960s | 100 |
| 1970s | 17 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 5 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Ethelyn peaked in 1911, when it was at its highest rank, reflecting the popularity of similar Victorian-era names. Its trajectory has remained stable but low, and it has not seen a revival. The name was first recorded in 1880, and its use in the 1910s was notable. It is a feminine variant of Ethel, formed with the popular suffix -lyn.
Ethelyn is a variant of Ethel, itself derived from the Old English element æthel, meaning 'noble'. It came into use in the 19th century as part of the Victorian revival of medieval names, often used with the suffix -lyn to create a feminine form. The name peaked in popularity in the early 1910s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Eth, Lyn, Ethy
Sibling names for Ethelyn
Names that share Ethelyn's style, for a brother or sister.
