Ethel Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Ethel is derived from the Old English word for 'noble,' reflecting its roots in nobility and aristocracy. It has evolved through historical forms like Æthel and gained popularity in the late 19th century. Today, it carries a vintage charm, with no significant biblical relevance, and is associated with notable figures in the performing arts.
The name Ethel is most popular in Mississippi, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Ethel has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Ethel' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1039th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1403rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3454th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 8050th out of 10718 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 25th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 91st out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 248th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 730th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2611th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6629th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 5414th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Ethel' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Ethel"
Pronunciation
/ˈɛθəl/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Ethel comes from the Old English word 'æthel,' which means 'noble' or 'noble one.'
Meaning
noble
Language Evolution
Æthel (Old English), Ethel (Middle English)
Historical Usage
Ethel was popular in England during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often associated with nobility and aristocracy.
Variants & Derivatives
Ethelda, Etheline, Ethelyn, Ethelreda
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Ethel is viewed as an old-fashioned name, often associated with vintage charm and nostalgia.
Famous People
Ethel Barrymore, an American actress, Ethel Waters, an American singer and actress, Ethel Merman, an American actress and singer
Explore More Ethel Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Ethel"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Ethel"
"Ethel" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1039th of 7545 | 706 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1403rd of 6773 | 430 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 3454th of 7552 | 104 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 8050th of 10718 | 17 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 25th of 9107 | 147,993 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 91st of 9204 | 53,968 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 248th of 12526 | 22,176 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 730th of 19264 | 3,276 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 2611th of 27321 | 691 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 6629th of 35406 | 285 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 5414th of 30306 | 286 |
Regional Popularity of "Ethel" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
85.06% 1173rd/1379 |
41.93% 992nd/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
58.10% 1367th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Ethel" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
2.82% 40th/1416 |
2.54% 35th/1379 |
0.89% 21st/2366 |
3.85% 44th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
7.63% 118th/1546 |
6.49% 101st/1556 |
2.17% 51st/2353 |
9.24% 143rd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
16.03% 357th/2227 |
12.39% 301st/2430 |
5.54% 158th/2853 |
16.50% 458th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
28.84% 847th/2937 |
21.36% 744th/3483 |
15.55% 547th/3518 |
31.48% 1273rd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
100.00% 3685th/3685 |
65.63% 2937th/4475 |
43.80% 2275th/5194 |
48.80% 3083rd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
61.33% 3167th/5164 |
- | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
84.85% 3807th/4487 |
94.50% 6447th/6822 |
100.00% 6276th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Ethel"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Ethel" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.