Ethna is an ancient and unique Irish female given name, derived from the Old Irish word 'Eithne', which means 'little bird'. This name has been associated with several notable figures in Irish mythology and history. It is often spelled variations such as Eithne, Ettie, or Even, but Ethna remains a distinctive and charming version.
The name Ethna experienced a significant spike in popularity between 1921 and 1922 with nine births recorded in the former year followed by seven births in the latter. Prior to this period, there was a consistent though low usage of the name, with five births each in 1892, 1913, and 1915. After 1924, with seven births recorded that year, the popularity of the name Ethna began to decline, culminating in a total of thirty-eight births over these years.