Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Ethel
GirlOld English· “noble”
- Meaning
- noble
- Origin
- Old English
- Pronunciation
- ETH-ul
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #4,211
- US babies 2025
- 34
- Best rank
- #6 (1896)
- Peak year
- 1918
Meaning and origin of Ethel
Ethel is an Old English name that means “noble”.
Ethel comes from the Old English aethel, noble, a common first element in Anglo-Saxon names such as Aethelred and Aethelthryth. It came back into use as a standalone name in nineteenth-century England, helped by novels of the period, and it was very popular around the turn of the twentieth century. Famous bearers include the singer and actress Ethel Merman and the singer Ethel Waters. It is said ETH-ul, two syllables with the stress on the first. Today Ethel feels strongly vintage, and it is attracting some interest as part of the revival of grandmother names.
Other spellings with the same sound: Ethyl.
Popularity over time
Ethel has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 96 different years. Its best national rank was #6 in 1896, and the most babies received it in 1918, when 8,075 were named Ethel. In 2025, 34 babies were named Ethel, and it ranked #4,211 nationally. That is 183% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #30 in 1920, #176 in 1950, #1,575 in 1980, #7,285 in 2000, #8,397 in 2010, and #4,211 in 2025. Of the 278,922 US girls named Ethel since records began, 23% were born in the 1910s, its biggest decade. The 1920s come next, with 62,806 babies. Since 2010, 363 more have been named Ethel.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Edith, Hazel, Josephine, Edna, and Pauline.
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Ethel is usually pronounced ETH-ul, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with E and ends in “-el”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Ethyl.
Middle names for Ethel
A few middle names that flow with Ethel: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Ethel
Similar names
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Lists that include Ethel
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ethel mean?
Ethel is an Old English name that means “noble”.
What is the origin of the name Ethel?
Ethel has Old English roots. Ethel comes from the Old English aethel, noble, a common first element in Anglo-Saxon names such as Aethelred and Aethelthryth.
Is Ethel a popular name?
Not especially. Ethel ranked #4,211 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Ethel a boy or girl name?
Ethel is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Ethel?
Ethel is usually pronounced ETH-ul. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings