Ethel is a girl name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Ethel means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Ethel across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Ethel has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Ethel is a girl name of Old English origin meaning “noble”. from the element aethel, revived in Victorian times.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 280,412 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 319 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 178 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Ethel per year, United States (1880 to 2025). United States peaked in 1918 (8,110/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2024 (36/yr) · Ireland peaked in 1969 (17/yr).
Ethel has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 1918, when it ranked #51 nationally (given to 8,110 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 1910s.
Ethyl · Eathel · Othel · Othella · Ethyle · Othello · Othelia · Athel
Not sure if it's the one? The best way to know is to see if your partner loves it too. Swipe baby names with your partner and match on the ones you both ❤️, free, no account needed to start.
Find your name together →