Ethel facts for kids

Ethel is an old English word that means "noble." Today, it is often used as a girl's name.

What Does the Name Ethel Mean?

The word æthel comes from Old English and means "noble" or "of noble family."

How Ethel Was Used in Old English Names

In the past, æthel was a common part of many Anglo-Saxon names. It was often the first part of names for both boys and girls. For example, you might see it in names like Æthelred or Æthelflæd.

This word is similar to "Adel-" or "Edel-" found in names from other parts of Europe. Think of names like Adolf or Adelaide.

How Ethel Became a Popular Name

Some old English names that started with Æthel- continued to be used over time. For example, Etheldred Benett lived from 1776 to 1845.

The name Ethel itself started as a shorter, friendly version of these longer names. But in the mid-1800s, it began to be used as a full first name on its own. This happened partly because of popular books like The Newcomes (1855) by W. M. Thackeray and The Daisy Chain (1856) by Charlotte Mary Yonge. The famous actress Ethel Barrymore, born in 1879, was even named after a character from The Newcomes.

When Was Ethel Most Popular?

The name Ethel was very popular in the 1890s. In the United States, it was the 7th most common name for baby girls in 1894. Its popularity slowly went down during the 1900s. By 1940, it was no longer in the top 100 names.

Famous People Named Ethel

Many notable people have been named Ethel. Here are a few examples:

• Ethel D. Allen (1929–1981), the first African-American woman to serve on the city council in Philadelphia.
• Ethel Anderson (1883–1958), an Australian poet, writer, and painter.
• Ethel Percy Andrus (1884–1967), an educator who started AARP, an organization for older adults.
• Ethel Barrymore (1879–1959), a famous American actress on stage and in movies.
• Ethel Bentham (1861–1931), an English doctor, politician, and supporter of women's right to vote.
• Ethel Catherwood (1908–1987), a Canadian athlete who won a gold medal in high jump at the 1928 Olympics.
• Ethel Roosevelt Derby (1891–1977), the younger daughter of U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt.
• Ethel Kennedy (born 1928), the widow of Robert F. Kennedy.
• Ethel Merman (1908–1984), a well-known American actress and singer.
• Ethel L. Payne (1911–1991), an important African-American journalist.
• Ethel Smyth (1858–1944), an English composer and leader in the women's right to vote movement.
• Ethel Turner (1872–1958), an Australian writer known for her children's books.

Fictional Characters Named Ethel

The name Ethel has also been used for many characters in books, TV shows, and movies:

• Ethel Ambrewster, a character in the sitcom The Ropers.
• Ethel Beavers, a character in the sitcom Parks and Recreation.
• Ethel Hallow, a character in The Worst Witch book series.
• Ethel Mertz, a character in the television program I Love Lucy.
• Ethel Skinner, a character in the British soap opera EastEnders.
• Ethel Rogers, a character in Agatha Christie’s novel And Then There Were None.
• Ethel Thayer, a character in the play On Golden Pond.
• Big Ethel, a character in Archie Comics.
• Silvercoat Ethel, a character in Xenoblade Chronicles 3.

See also

• Ætheling
• Odal (rune)
• Odal (disambiguation)