Ether
Every Ether since 1883 — 1,285 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
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.
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
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.