Holding steady.
Popularity of Ethlyn since 1884
Babies named Ethlyn per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1921, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Ethlyn's real moment was 1884.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 5 |
| 1890s | 10 |
| 1900s | 47 |
| 1910s | 177 |
| 1920s | 218 |
| 1930s | 115 |
| 1940s | 71 |
| 1950s | 24 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Ethlyn is a rare name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1884, and that year remains its peak. Despite its early debut, the name never achieved widespread popularity and has stayed remarkably stable at very low usage through 2025. As a late 19th-century invention, Ethlyn fits the pattern of elaborate feminine names ending in -lyn, likely derived from Ethel or Ethan. The name has no recorded top states, indicating it never clustered regionally. Ethlyn appeals to those seeking a vintage, uncommon name with a gentle sound and a touch of Victorian charm.
Ethlyn likely arose as a 19th-century coinage, possibly a variant of the Old English name Ethel (meaning 'noble') or a feminine form of the Hebrew name Ethan (meaning 'strong, enduring'). It was most popular in the 1880s, with its peak year in 1884, after which its usage declined sharply.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Eth, Lyn
Sibling names for Ethlyn
Names that share Ethlyn's style, for a brother or sister.
