Ether: 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	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	20	–	20	2	–	#927
1890s	83	–	83	8	+315%	#854
1900s	139	–	139	14	+67%	#813
1910s	237	16	253	25	+82%	#901
1920s	334	27	361	36	+43%	#1,102
1930s	224	10	234	23	-35%	#1,294
1940s	117	–	117	12	-50%	#2,181
1950s	54	–	54	5	-54%	#3,085
1960s	6	–	6	1	-89%	#6,234
1970s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1980s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1990s	–	–	–	–	–	–
2000s	–	–	–	–	–	–
2010s	–	18	18	2	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Boys

Total

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

#927

1890s

–

+315%

#854

1900s

139

–

139

+67%

#813

1910s

237

253

+82%

#901

1920s

334

361

+43%

#1,102

1930s

224

234

-35%

#1,294

1940s

117

–

117

-50%

#2,181

1950s

–

-54%

#3,085

1960s

–

-89%

#6,234

1970s

–

1980s

–

1990s

–

2000s

–

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Ether

Ether 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 1883, 1,285 American babies have been named Ether, about 94% girls and 6% boys, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1920, when 49 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 Ether stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Ether?

The median living Ether is about 81 years old; half are between 73 and 88. An estimated 200 people named Ether 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.

Ether 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	–	–	–	–
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	–	–
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	–	–	5	#12,751
2017	–	–	–	–
2016	–	–	7	#9,973
2015	–	–	–	–
2014	–	–	–	–
2013	–	–	6	#11,167
2012	–	–	–	–
2011	–	–	–	–
2010	–	–	–	–
2009	–	–	–	–
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	–	–	–	–
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	–	–	–	–
2004	–	–	–	–
2003	–	–	–	–
2002	–	–	–	–
2001	–	–	–	–
2000	–	–	–	–
1995	–	–	–	–
1990	–	–	–	–
1985	–	–	–	–
1980	–	–	–	–
1975	–	–	–	–
1970	–	–	–	–
1965	–	–	–	–
1960	–	–	–	–
1955	9	#4,166	–	–
1950	9	#3,767	–	–
1945	13	#2,503	–	–
1940	11	#2,617	–	–
1935	14	#2,236	5	#3,840
1930	24	#1,627	5	#4,181
1925	28	#1,586	–	–
1920	43	#1,158	6	#3,981
1915	31	#1,267	5	#4,010
1910	23	#901	–	–
1905	12	#1,114	–	–
1900	21	#813	–	–
1895	8	#1,227	–	–
1890	9	#962	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Ether?

The median living Ether is about 81 years old. Half of all living Ethers are between 73 and 88 years old.

How many people named Ether are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Ether are alive in the United States, based on 1,285 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Ether in 2025?

Ether 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 Ether?

1,285 babies have been named Ether in the United States since 1883, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Ether most popular?

Ether peaked in 1920, when 49 newborns received the name.

Is Ether a boy or girl name?

Ether is used for both: about 94% of babies named Ether have been girls and 6% boys.

Is the name Ether rising or falling?

Ether has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Ether

Ether popularity over time

The story of Ether

How old are people named Ether?

Ether year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Ether