Ethel
Short form of names of Old English origin beginning with Ethel-, æþele (“noble”).
Every Ethel since 1880 — 280,412 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Ethel
Ethel is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #4,211 in 2025 with 34 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 280,412 American babies have been named Ethel. Its peak came in 1918, when 8,110 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1910s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Ethel stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Ethel year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 34 | #4,211 | — | — |
| 2024 | 27 | #4,937 | — | — |
| 2023 | 23 | #5,440 | — | — |
| 2022 | 28 | #4,835 | — | — |
| 2021 | 27 | #4,880 | — | — |
| 2020 | 26 | #4,933 | — | — |
| 2019 | 23 | #5,490 | — | — |
| 2018 | 32 | #4,387 | — | — |
| 2017 | 28 | #4,851 | — | — |
| 2016 | 25 | #5,337 | — | — |
| 2015 | 12 | #9,129 | — | — |
| 2014 | 21 | #6,059 | — | — |
| 2013 | 14 | #8,273 | — | — |
| 2012 | 15 | #7,954 | — | — |
| 2011 | 14 | #8,333 | — | — |
| 2010 | 14 | #8,397 | — | — |
| 2009 | 15 | #8,181 | — | — |
| 2008 | 13 | #9,136 | — | — |
| 2007 | 17 | #7,496 | — | — |
| 2006 | 13 | #8,885 | — | — |
| 2005 | 20 | #6,086 | — | — |
| 2004 | 23 | #5,429 | — | — |
| 2003 | 24 | #5,138 | — | — |
| 2002 | 29 | #4,311 | — | — |
| 2001 | 19 | #5,893 | — | — |
| 2000 | 14 | #7,285 | — | — |
| 1995 | 25 | #4,134 | — | — |
| 1990 | 46 | #2,578 | — | — |
| 1985 | 54 | #2,002 | — | — |
| 1980 | 74 | #1,575 | — | — |
| 1975 | 149 | #889 | — | — |
| 1970 | 228 | #689 | — | — |
| 1965 | 440 | #457 | 5 | #4,077 |
| 1960 | 731 | #359 | — | — |
| 1955 | 1,103 | #247 | 9 | #2,835 |
| 1950 | 1,602 | #176 | 9 | #2,637 |
| 1945 | 1,817 | #134 | 10 | #2,298 |
| 1940 | 2,373 | #106 | 12 | #2,113 |
| 1935 | 3,003 | #82 | 27 | #1,303 |
| 1930 | 4,101 | #65 | 37 | #1,159 |
| 1925 | 6,176 | #43 | 33 | #1,262 |
| 1920 | 7,868 | #30 | 23 | #1,611 |
| 1915 | 7,379 | #23 | 30 | #1,191 |
| 1910 | 4,146 | #13 | 33 | #484 |
| 1905 | 3,401 | #12 | 14 | #645 |
| 1900 | 3,896 | #8 | 20 | #539 |
| 1895 | 3,391 | #8 | 15 | #534 |
| 1890 | 2,718 | #7 | 8 | #769 |
| 1885 | 1,495 | #15 | 13 | #526 |
| 1880 | 633 | #38 | 6 | #853 |
Famous people named Ethel
- Ethel Voynich Writer · 1864–1960
- Ethel Barrymore Actor · 1879–1959
- Ethel Smyth Composer · 1858–1944
- Ethel Kennedy Celebrity · b. 1928
- Ethel Catherwood Athlete · 1908–1987
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ethel mean?
Short form of names of Old English origin beginning with Ethel-, æþele (“noble”).
How popular is the name Ethel in 2025?
Ethel ranked #4,211 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 34 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Ethel?
280,412 babies have been named Ethel in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Ethel most popular?
Ethel peaked in 1918, when 8,110 newborns received the name.
Is Ethel a boy or girl name?
Ethel is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 99% of babies with the name.
Is the name Ethel rising or falling?
Ethel is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Ethel?
Well-known people named Ethel include Ethel Voynich (writer), Ethel Barrymore (actor), Ethel Smyth (composer).