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Ethel

Girl

Meaning of Ethel: English: 'noble'

Ethel is a girl's name most strongly associated with English naming. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, and it is familiar but far from overused — 4025th most popular girls' name in the United States in 2025 and 980th in England & Wales.

US rank 2025

#4025

34 babies in 2025

England & Wales 2024

#980

36 babies in 2024

US babies since 1880

280,412

First recorded 1880 · peak 1918

Trend

stable

Style: uncommon

Popularity over time

1981: 63 babies1982: 82 babies1983: 70 babies1984: 48 babies1985: 54 babies1986: 46 babies1987: 29 babies1988: 30 babies1989: 51 babies1990: 46 babies19901991: 36 babies1992: 33 babies1993: 27 babies1994: 22 babies1995: 25 babies1996: 28 babies1997: 14 babies1998: 18 babies1999: 23 babies2000: 14 babies20002001: 19 babies2002: 29 babies2003: 24 babies2004: 23 babies2005: 20 babies2006: 13 babies2007: 17 babies2008: 13 babies2009: 15 babies2010: 14 babies20102011: 14 babies2012: 15 babies2013: 14 babies2014: 21 babies2015: 12 babies2016: 25 babies2017: 28 babies2018: 32 babies2019: 23 babies2020: 26 babies20202021: 27 babies2022: 28 babies2023: 23 babies2024: 27 babies2025: 34 babies
US babies named Ethel per year (Social Security Administration). Peak bar = 82.

Gender split

1% boys · 99% girls, based on US, UK and international usage.

Origins & cultures

More English girls' names

Other names starting with E