Ethyl: 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	151	15	–	#422
1890s	344	34	+128%	#415
1900s	319	32	-7%	#511
1910s	654	65	+105%	#639
1920s	474	47	-28%	#897
1930s	209	21	-56%	#1,344
1940s	151	15	-28%	#1,927
1950s	77	8	-49%	#2,813
1960s	11	1	-86%	#6,046
1970s	5	1	-55%	#8,716
1980s	–	–	–	–
1990s	–	–	–	–
2000s	–	–	–	–
2010s	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

151

–

#422

1890s

344

+128%

#415

1900s

319

-7%

#511

1910s

654

+105%

#639

1920s

474

-28%

#897

1930s

209

-56%

#1,344

1940s

151

-28%

#1,927

1950s

-49%

#2,813

1960s

-86%

#6,046

1970s

-55%

#8,716

1980s

–

1990s

–

2000s

–

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Ethyl

Ethyl 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, 2,395 American babies have been named Ethyl. Its peak came in 1915, when 92 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 Ethyl stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Ethyl?

The median living Ethyl is about 80 years old; half are between 73 and 87. An estimated 200 people named Ethyl 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.

Ethyl 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	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	–	–
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	–	–
1955	6	#5,391
1950	14	#2,813
1945	11	#2,791
1940	17	#1,983
1935	15	#2,134
1930	32	#1,357
1925	47	#1,124
1920	50	#1,055
1915	92	#689
1910	34	#730
1905	29	#658
1900	29	#662
1895	31	#532
1890	25	#528
1885	16	#547
1880	8	#644

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Ethyl?

The median living Ethyl is about 80 years old. Half of all living Ethyls are between 73 and 87 years old.

How many people named Ethyl are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Ethyl are alive in the United States, based on 2,395 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Ethyl mean?

Alternative form of Ethel: a female given name from Old English

How popular is the name Ethyl in 2025?

Ethyl 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 Ethyl?

2,395 babies have been named Ethyl in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Ethyl most popular?

Ethyl peaked in 1915, when 92 newborns received the name.

Is Ethyl a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Ethyl rising or falling?

Ethyl has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Ethyl

Ethyl popularity over time

The story of Ethyl

How old are people named Ethyl?

Ethyl year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Ethyl