Ethel, of Germanic origin, means "noble" or "well-born". It was popular during the Middle Ages but declined in usage by the early 20th century. Today, it is considered an old-fashioned name, yet it retains a certain vintage charm.
The name Ethel was popular during the late 19th and early 20th centuries with a significant increase in births between 1897 to 1927. The peak years for the name were 1917, 1924, and 1927 with 37, 41, and 43 births respectively. After the 1920s, the popularity of the name began to decline, with fewer than 20 births per year from the late 1930s onwards. The total number of babies named Ethel over this period was 1490.