Ethelyn: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	142	14	–	#456
1890s	241	24	+70%	#495
1900s	370	37	+54%	#491
1910s	1,100	110	+197%	#497
1920s	1,250	125	+14%	#551
1930s	626	63	-50%	#762
1940s	373	37	-40%	#1,074
1950s	226	23	-39%	#1,645
1960s	100	10	-56%	#3,205
1970s	17	2	-83%	#7,561
1980s	–	–	–	–
1990s	–	–	–	–
2000s	–	–	–	–
2010s	5	1	–	#17,369
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

142

–

#456

1890s

241

+70%

#495

1900s

370

+54%

#491

1910s

1,100

110

+197%

#497

1920s

1,250

125

+14%

#551

1930s

626

-50%

#762

1940s

373

-40%

#1,074

1950s

226

-39%

#1,645

1960s

100

-56%

#3,205

1970s

-83%

#7,561

1980s

–

1990s

–

2000s

–

2010s

–

#17,369

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Ethelyn

Ethelyn is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1880, 4,450 American babies have been named Ethelyn. Its peak came in 1920, when 168 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

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 Ethelyn stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Ethelyn?

The median living Ethelyn is about 78 years old; half are between 70 and 87. An estimated 700 people named Ethelyn are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Ethelyn year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	5	#17,369
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	6	#8,304
1970	–	–
1965	9	#4,597
1960	12	#3,763
1955	23	#2,298
1950	25	#1,925
1945	26	#1,631
1940	35	#1,250
1935	56	#929
1930	85	#762
1925	128	#648
1920	168	#551
1915	147	#515
1910	65	#506
1905	33	#611
1900	29	#661
1895	27	#580
1890	9	#961
1885	15	#562
1880	14	#456

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Ethelyn, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Ethelyn?

The median living Ethelyn is about 78 years old. Half of all living Ethelyns are between 70 and 87 years old.

How many people named Ethelyn are alive today?

An estimated 700 people named Ethelyn are alive in the United States, based on 4,450 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Ethelyn in 2025?

Ethelyn did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Ethelyn?

4,450 babies have been named Ethelyn in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Ethelyn most popular?

Ethelyn peaked in 1920, when 168 newborns received the name.

Is Ethelyn a boy or girl name?

Ethelyn is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Ethelyn rising or falling?

Ethelyn is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Ethelyn

Ethelyn popularity over time

The story of Ethelyn

How old are people named Ethelyn?

Ethelyn year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Ethelyn