Ethel
3 countries#4172 in United States, 2025Popularity across 3 countries
Each line is scaled to its own peak, so you can compare when Ethel was in fashion in each country, whatever the population size.
Country by country
🇺🇸 United States
280,412 births recorded 1880–2025 · currently #4172 · peaked in 1918 with 8,110 births
Most common in: Pennsylvania, New York, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia
Source: Social Security Administration, official birth-registration data
🇫🇷 France
1,135 births recorded 1913–2022 · currently #916 · peaked in 2011 with 60 births
Most common in: Paris, Hauts-de-Seine, Val-de-Marne, Rhône, Loire-Atlantique
Source: INSEE, official birth-registration data
🏴🏴 England & Wales
231 births recorded 2000–2021 · currently #1195 · peaked in 2017 with 31 births
Source: Office for National Statistics, official birth-registration data
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
231 births recorded 2000–2021 · peaked in 2017 with 31 births (England & Wales + Scotland + Northern Ireland combined)
Source: ONS, National Records of Scotland & NISRA (combined), official birth-registration data
United States rank history
Ethel’s rank among girls’ names, most recent 20 years on record.
| Year | Rank | vs. prior yr |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | #8715 | — |
| 2007 | #7394 | ↑1321 |
| 2008 | #8965 | ↓1571 |
| 2009 | #8058 | ↑907 |
| 2010 | #8271 | ↓213 |
| 2011 | #8196 | ↑75 |
| 2012 | #7804 | ↑392 |
| 2013 | #8135 | ↓331 |
| 2014 | #5993 | ↑2142 |
| 2015 | #8931 | ↓2938 |
| 2016 | #5284 | ↑3647 |
| 2017 | #4811 | ↑473 |
| 2018 | #4357 | ↑454 |
| 2019 | #5449 | ↓1092 |
| 2020 | #4880 | ↑569 |
| 2021 | #4833 | ↑47 |
| 2022 | #4793 | ↑40 |
| 2023 | #5390 | ↓597 |
| 2024 | #4893 | ↑497 |
| 2025 | #4172 | ↑721 |
Frequently asked questions about Ethel
Is Ethel a popular name?
Yes — Ethel currently ranks #4172 among girls’ names in United States as of 2025, based on official birth records.
Is Ethel more common for boys or girls?
Ethel is recorded predominantly as a girls’ name in official United States birth data.
When was Ethel most popular?
Ethel peaked in 1918 in United States, with 8,110 recorded births that year.
Is Ethel rising or falling in popularity?
In United States, Ethel’s popularity is falling — its rank has slipped from #38 in 1880 to #4172 in 2025.
How many babies have been named Ethel?
At least 281,778 babies have been recorded with the name Ethel across official birth statistics in 3 countries.
Is Ethel popular in more than one country?
Yes — Ethel appears in official birth records in 3 countries: United States, France, England & Wales.
What names are similar in popularity to Ethel?
Based on real 2025 ranking data in United States, names ranked closest to Ethel include Emili, Esli, Evee, Gwendolynn.
Similar names right now
Ranked directly next to Ethel in United States, 2025 — a real popularity match, not a subjective list.