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At a Glance: Name: Ethel – Meaning: noble – Origin: Old English – Gender: used for both boys and girls
Ethel is an Old English name that means "noble." It has a vintage feel and a clear, simple meaning, which makes it easy to explain to family and friends.
Meaning & Origin of Ethel
Meaning: Noble.
Origin: Old English.
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
Popularity of Ethel
Ethel ranked #6 in 1896, when 3,502 babies were given the name. By 2024 it had fallen to #4915, with 27 babies named Ethel that year.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.
Make Ethel Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Ethel, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Ethel mean?
Noble. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ethel)
Is Ethel a popular name right now?
Ethel peaked at #6 in 1896 and is ranked #4915 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)
📊 How popular is Ethel? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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