Ethel
#4,172 for girls in 2025, 34 births · Last seen for boys in 1968 at #4,136
Given to girls 99.5% of the time
Showing
- Peak · girls
- 1896 · 3,502 births
- Debut · girls
- 633 births
- In top 100 · girls
- 60 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 278,922since 1880
Ethel over time
girls
Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #4,172 | 34 | — | |
| 2024 | #4,893 | 27 | — | |
| 2023 | #5,390 | 23 | — | |
| 2022 | #4,793 | 28 | — | |
| 2021 | #4,833 | 27 | — | |
| 2020 | #4,880 | 26 | — | |
| 2019 | #5,449 | 23 | — | |
| 2018 | #4,357 | 32 | — | |
| 2017 | #4,811 | 28 | — | |
| 2016 | #5,284 | 25 | — | |
| 2015 | #8,931 | 12 | — | |
| 2014 | #5,993 | 21 | — | |
| 2013 | #8,135 | 14 | — | |
| 2012 | #7,804 | 15 | — | |
| 2011 | #8,196 | 14 | — | |
| 2010 | #8,271 | 14 | — | |
| 2009 | #8,058 | 15 | — | |
| 2008 | #8,965 | 13 | — | |
| 2007 | #7,394 | 17 | — | |
| 2006 | #8,715 | 13 | — | |
| 2005 | #5,999 | 20 | — | |
| 2004 | #5,377 | 23 | — | |
| 2003 | #5,092 | 24 | — | |
| 2002 | #4,280 | 29 | — | |
| 2001 | #5,822 | 19 | — | |
| 2000 | #7,158 | 14 | — | |
| 1999 | #4,718 | 23 | — | |
| 1998 | #5,583 | 18 | — | |
| 1997 | #6,483 | 14 | — | |
| 1996 | #3,831 | 28 | — | |
| 1995 | #4,099 | 25 | — | |
| 1994 | #4,521 | 22 | — | |
| 1993 | #3,877 | 27 | — | |
| 1992 | #3,343 | 33 | — | |
| 1991 | #3,097 | 36 | — | |
| 1990 | #2,571 | 46 | — | |
| 1989 | #2,304 | 51 | — | |
| 1988 | #3,225 | 30 | — | |
| 1987 | #3,169 | 29 | — | |
| 1986 | #2,228 | 46 | — | |
| 1985 | #1,997 | 54 | — | |
| 1984 | #2,081 | 48 | — | |
| 1983 | #1,585 | 70 | — | |
| 1982 | #1,461 | 82 | — | |
| 1981 | #1,767 | 63 | — | |
| 1980 | #1,570 | 74 | — | |
| 1979 | #1,410 | 87 | — | |
| 1978 | #1,186 | 106 | — | |
| 1977 | #1,170 | 106 | — | |
| 1976 | #1,071 | 114 | — | |
| 1975 | #889 | 149 | — | |
| 1974 | #950 | 130 | — | |
| 1973 | #755 | 181 | — | |
| 1972 | #769 | 180 | — | |
| 1971 | #698 | 218 | — | |
| 1970 | #689 | 228 | — | |
| 1969 | #600 | 275 | — | |
| 1968 | #568 | 283 | #4,136 | 5 |
| 1967 | #513 | 341 | — | |
| 1966 | #491 | 364 | #3,249 | 7 |
| 1965 | #457 | 440 | #3,930 | 5 |
| 1964 | #431 | 517 | — | |
| 1963 | #424 | 524 | #3,044 | 8 |
| 1962 | #398 | 581 | #4,033 | 5 |
| 1961 | #381 | 635 | — | |
| 1960 | #359 | 731 | — | |
| 1959 | #364 | 681 | — | |
| 1958 | #311 | 856 | — | |
| 1957 | #310 | 879 | #3,993 | 5 |
| 1956 | #256 | 1,076 | #3,216 | 7 |
| 1955 | #247 | 1,103 | #2,764 | 9 |
| 1954 | #235 | 1,176 | #3,452 | 6 |
| 1953 | #225 | 1,281 | — | |
| 1952 | #205 | 1,398 | #2,153 | 13 |
| 1951 | #191 | 1,492 | #3,066 | 7 |
| 1950 | #176 | 1,602 | #2,580 | 9 |
| 1949 | #164 | 1,753 | #2,606 | 9 |
| 1948 | #152 | 1,872 | #3,316 | 6 |
| 1947 | #144 | 2,085 | #2,862 | 8 |
| 1946 | #139 | 1,933 | #2,143 | 12 |
| 1945 | #134 | 1,817 | #2,242 | 10 |
| 1944 | #127 | 2,056 | #2,633 | 8 |
| 1943 | #126 | 2,217 | #2,405 | 10 |
| 1942 | #124 | 2,203 | #1,867 | 15 |
| 1941 | #116 | 2,273 | #1,759 | 16 |
| 1940 | #106 | 2,373 | #2,081 | 12 |
| 1939 | #100 | 2,496 | #1,238 | 28 |
| 1938 | #94 | 2,726 | #1,275 | 27 |
| 1937 | #88 | 2,763 | #1,403 | 23 |
| 1936 | #90 | 2,730 | #1,639 | 17 |
| 1935 | #82 | 3,003 | #1,295 | 27 |
| 1934 | #78 | 3,178 | #1,213 | 30 |
| 1933 | #71 | 3,217 | #1,103 | 35 |
| 1932 | #66 | 3,608 | #1,509 | 22 |
| 1931 | #67 | 3,760 | #1,194 | 33 |
| 1930 | #65 | 4,101 | #1,151 | 37 |
| 1929 | #56 | 4,519 | #1,237 | 32 |
| 1928 | #55 | 4,928 | #992 | 48 |
| 1927 | #47 | 5,483 | #1,080 | 43 |
| 1926 | #41 | 5,856 | #1,331 | 30 |
| 1925 | #43 | 6,176 | #1,246 | 33 |
| 1924 | #39 | 6,586 | #1,117 | 41 |
| 1923 | #38 | 6,541 | #1,300 | 31 |
| 1922 | #32 | 7,246 | #1,503 | 25 |
| 1921 | #32 | 7,603 | #1,296 | 32 |
| 1920 | #30 | 7,868 | #1,592 | 23 |
| 1919 | #28 | 7,809 | #1,082 | 40 |
| 1918 | #28 | 8,075 | #1,172 | 35 |
| 1917 | #24 | 7,865 | #1,092 | 37 |
| 1916 | #25 | 7,601 | #1,415 | 24 |
| 1915 | #23 | 7,379 | #1,181 | 30 |
| 1914 | #21 | 6,204 | #1,127 | 26 |
| 1913 | #20 | 5,369 | #950 | 27 |
| 1912 | #18 | 5,073 | #1,095 | 18 |
| 1911 | #15 | 4,141 | #793 | 17 |
| 1910 | #13 | 4,146 | #480 | 33 |
| 1909 | #13 | 3,661 | #519 | 25 |
| 1908 | #12 | 3,786 | #541 | 22 |
| 1907 | #12 | 3,698 | #778 | 12 |
| 1906 | #12 | 3,511 | #590 | 16 |
| 1905 | #12 | 3,401 | #636 | 14 |
| 1904 | #11 | 3,296 | #538 | 17 |
| 1903 | #9 | 3,257 | #470 | 20 |
| 1902 | #9 | 3,295 | #490 | 19 |
| 1901 | #9 | 3,067 | #487 | 16 |
| 1900 | #8 | 3,896 | #534 | 20 |
| 1899 | #9 | 2,999 | #502 | 15 |
| 1898 | #8 | 3,531 | #403 | 24 |
| 1897 | #8 | 3,182 | #473 | 17 |
| 1896 | #6 | 3,502 | #641 | 12 |
| 1895 | #8 | 3,391 | #529 | 15 |
| 1894 | #7 | 3,287 | #631 | 11 |
| 1893 | #8 | 3,119 | #572 | 12 |
| 1892 | #8 | 3,035 | #480 | 17 |
| 1891 | #7 | 2,689 | #635 | 9 |
| 1890 | #7 | 2,718 | #739 | 8 |
| 1889 | #8 | 2,463 | #498 | 14 |
| 1888 | #9 | 2,374 | #580 | 12 |
| 1887 | #11 | 1,907 | #583 | 10 |
| 1886 | #15 | 1,699 | #845 | 6 |
| 1885 | #15 | 1,495 | #521 | 13 |
| 1884 | #18 | 1,386 | #764 | 7 |
| 1883 | #20 | 1,132 | — | |
| 1882 | #24 | 989 | — | |
| 1881 | #25 | 788 | #866 | 5 |
| 1880 | #38 | 633 | #809 | 6 |
First appearance
1880
In the first year the SSA published name data, Ethel was already there! It came in at #38, and was given to 633 baby girls.
Quietest stretch: 2015, when fewer than 13 girls a year got the name.
Where Ethel is popular in 1926
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
Top states · girls
- Louisiana#12 · 1 in 92
- South Carolina#19 · 1 in 93
- Alabama#21 · 1 in 118
- Nevada#22 · 1 in 48
- North Carolina#23 · 1 in 119
Best ever in a state: #3 in Florida, 1910.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | #12 | 260 | 1 in 92 |
| South Carolina | #19 | 235 | 1 in 93 |
| Alabama | #21 | 276 | 1 in 118 |
| Nevada | #22 | 5 | 1 in 48 |
| North Carolina | #23 | 323 | 1 in 119 |
| Hawaii | #24 | 32 | 1 in 110 |
| Mississippi | #24 | 190 | 1 in 125 |
| Virginia | #26 | 210 | 1 in 124 |
| West Virginia | #28 | 142 | 1 in 141 |
| Montana | #30 | 30 | 1 in 126 |
| Georgia | #31 | 207 | 1 in 153 |
| Maryland | #32 | 93 | 1 in 146 |
| Florida | #34 | 105 | 1 in 159 |
| Tennessee | #36 | 154 | 1 in 176 |
| Delaware | #37 | 11 | 1 in 136 |
| Kentucky | #37 | 167 | 1 in 171 |
| Arkansas | #38 | 125 | 1 in 165 |
| Pennsylvania | #38 | 552 | 1 in 166 |
| New Jersey | #41 | 170 | 1 in 179 |
| Missouri | #45 | 143 | 1 in 212 |
| Idaho | #48 | 19 | 1 in 185 |
| Vermont | #48 | 16 | 1 in 156 |
| Texas | #49 | 250 | 1 in 239 |
| New York | #51 | 464 | 1 in 212 |
| Wyoming | #51 | 9 | 1 in 168 |
| District of Columbia | #54 | 19 | 1 in 182 |
| Oklahoma | #54 | 102 | 1 in 245 |
| Colorado | #57 | 39 | 1 in 213 |
| North Dakota | #57 | 29 | 1 in 217 |
| Maine | #59 | 33 | 1 in 197 |
| Indiana | #60 | 93 | 1 in 281 |
| New Hampshire | #60 | 17 | 1 in 193 |
| Connecticut | #61 | 50 | 1 in 243 |
| Kansas | #61 | 57 | 1 in 268 |
| South Dakota | #62 | 28 | 1 in 211 |
| Arizona | #63 | 16 | 1 in 242 |
| Ohio | #64 | 214 | 1 in 254 |
| Oregon | #64 | 23 | 1 in 244 |
| California | #65 | 118 | 1 in 306 |
| Wisconsin | #65 | 99 | 1 in 240 |
| Massachusetts | #68 | 128 | 1 in 271 |
| Minnesota | #69 | 82 | 1 in 264 |
| Nebraska | #70 | 42 | 1 in 269 |
| Rhode Island | #71 | 21 | 1 in 259 |
| Washington | #74 | 35 | 1 in 273 |
| Illinois | #75 | 196 | 1 in 304 |
| Michigan | #75 | 138 | 1 in 297 |
| Iowa | #82 | 61 | 1 in 326 |
| New Mexico | #86 | 13 | 1 in 304 |
| Utah | #96 | 13 | 1 in 371 |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.
See more about Ethel
Momentum · girls
Holding steady
- 721 spots since 2024 (#4,893 → #4,172)
- 708 spots since 2020 (#4,880 → #4,172)
- 4,759 spots since 2015 (#8,931 → #4,172)
- Biggest jump: 61 spots in 1975 (#950 → #889)
- Biggest drop: 195 spots in 1974 (#755 → #950)
Rise & fade · girls
16 yrs to peak
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1896 at #6 (3,502 births)
- Births halved by 1950, 54 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 10 for 16 yrs
- Top 10: 16 yrs · run 1888–1903
- Top 100: 60 yrs · run 1880–1939
- Top 1,000: 96 yrs · run 1880–1975
Share of babies · girls
1 in 68
- Highest: 1 in 68 girls born in 1894 were named Ethel (1.5%)
- Latest: 1 in 47,273 girls born in 2025 (0.00%)
- Its best rank, #6 in 1896, was only 1 in 68 (1.5%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · girls
The 1910s
- 22.8% of all girls named Ethel (63,662) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 14,866 | #8 (1889) | #18 |
| 1890s | 31,453 | #6 (1896) | #8 |
| 1900s | 34,868 | #8 (1900) | #11 |
| 1910s | 63,662 | #13 (1910) | #22 |
| 1920s | 62,806 | #30 (1920) | #41 |
| 1930s | 31,582 | #65 (1930) | #80 |
| 1940s | 20,582 | #106 (1940) | #133 |
| 1950s | 11,544 | #176 (1950) | #252 |
| 1960s | 4,691 | #359 (1960) | #462 |
| 1970s | 1,499 | #689 (1970) | #959 |
| 1980s | 547 | #1,461 (1982) | #2,139 |
| 1990s | 272 | #2,571 (1990) | #4,212 |
| 2000s | 187 | #4,280 (2002) | #6,686 |
| 2010s | 198 | #4,357 (2018) | #6,723 |
| 2020s | 165 | #4,172 (2025) | #4,827 |
All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.
Ethel in 1926
girls
#41
5,856 births · 1 in 202 girls
boys
#1,331
30 births · 1 in 37,017 boys
Top girls' names in 1926
Top boys' names in 1926
More about 1926
girls
1,185,401 girls got a published name in 1926; 1 in 202 of them was named Ethel, which outranked 99.3% of the 5,622 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.5% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Ranked beside Ethel
Biggest movers since 1925
Risers
- ↑ 1,047Janell#1,795 → #748
- ↑ 389Madalyn#1,225 → #836
- ↑ 382Evangelina#1,324 → #942
- ↑ 379Carla#1,252 → #873
- ↑ 351Vilma#1,020 → #669
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,110,505 boys got a published name in 1926; 1 in 37,017 of them was named Ethel, which outranked 72.5% of the 4,837 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.0% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
Ranked beside Ethel
- #1,296Teodoro31
- #1,296Terence31
- #1,296Wayman31
- #1,331Ethel30
- #1,331Avon30
- #1,331Cal30
- #1,331Carlie30
- #1,353Alger29
- #1,353Attilio29
- #1,353Burnice29
Tied with 21 names at #1,331; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Biggest movers since 1925
Risers
Fallers
- ↓ 531Okey#984 → #1,515
- ↓ 459Florentino#973 → #1,432
- ↓ 407Rexford#924 → #1,331
- ↓ 380Marshal#973 → #1,353
- ↓ 378Coolidge#746 → #1,124
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.