Ethel (also '' æthel'') is an

Old English Old English ( or , or ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the Early Middle Ages. It developed from the languages brought to Great Britain by Anglo-S ...

word meaning "noble", today often used as a feminine

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

Etymology and historic usage

The word means ''æthel'' "noble". It is frequently attested as the first element in

Anglo-Saxon names Germanic given names are traditionally dithematic; that is, they are formed from two elements ( stems), by joining a prefix and a suffix. For example, King Æþelred's name was derived from ', meaning "noble", and ', meaning "counsel". The ind ...

, both masculine and feminine, e.g. Æthelhard,

Æthelred Æthelred (; ) or Ethelred () is an Old English personal name (a compound of '' æþele'' and '' ræd'', meaning "noble counsel" or "well-advised") and may refer to: Anglo-Saxon England * Æthelred and Æthelberht, legendary princes of Kent * � ...

, Æthelwulf; Æthelburg,

Æthelflæd Æthelflæd ( – 12 June 918) ruled as Lady of the Mercians in the English Midlands from 911 until her death in 918. She was the eldest child of Alfred the Great, king of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex, and his wife Ealhswith. Æthelflæd ...

Æthelthryth Æthelthryth (or Æðelþryð or Æþelðryþe; 23 June 679) was an East Anglian princess, a Fenland and Northumbrian queen and Abbess of Ely. She is an Anglo-Saxon The Anglo-Saxons, in some contexts simply called Saxons or the Englis ...

(

Audrey Audrey () is a feminine given name. It is rarely a masculine given name. Audrey is the Anglo-Norman form of the Anglo-Saxon name ''Æðelþryð'', composed of the elements '' æðel'' "noble" and '' þryð'' "strength". The literal definition of ...

). It corresponds to the ''Adel-'' and ''Edel-'' in continental names, such as

Adolf Adolf (also spelt Adolph or Adolphe, Adolfo, and when Latinised Adolphus) is a given name with German origins. The name is a compound derived from the Old High German ''Athalwolf'' (or ''Hadulf''), a composition of ''athal'', or ''adal'', mean ...

(Æthelwulf),

Albert Albert may refer to: Companies * Albert Computers, Inc., a computer manufacturer in the 1980s * Albert Czech Republic, a supermarket chain in the Czech Republic * Albert Heijn, a supermarket chain in the Netherlands * Albert Market, a street mar ...

(Adalbert), Adelheid (Adelaide), Edeltraut and Edelgard. Some of the feminine Anglo-Saxon names in Æthel- survived into the modern period (e.g. Etheldred Benett 1776–1845). ''Ethel'' was in origin used as a familiar form of such names, but it began to be used as a feminine given name in its own right beginning in the mid-19th century, gaining popularity due to characters so named in novels by

W. M. Thackeray William Makepeace Thackeray ( ; 18 July 1811 – 24 December 1863) was an English novelist and illustrator. He is known for his satirical works, particularly his 1847–1848 novel '' Vanity Fair'', a panoramic portrait of British society, and t ...

(''

The Newcomes ''The Newcomes: Memoirs of a Most Respectable Family'' is a novel by William Makepeace Thackeray, first published in 1854 and 1855. Publication ''The Newcomes'' was published serially over about two years, as Thackeray himself says in one of t ...

'' – 1855) and

Charlotte Mary Yonge Charlotte Mary Yonge (11 August 1823 – 24 March 1901) was an English novelist, who wrote in the service of the church. Her abundant books helped to spread the influence of the Oxford Movement and showed her keen interest in matters of public h ...

(''The Daisy Chain'' whose heroine Ethel's full name is Etheldred – 1856); the actress

Ethel Barrymore Ethel Barrymore (born Ethel Mae Blythe; August 15, 1879 – June 18, 1959) was an American actress and a member of the Barrymore family of actors. Barrymore was a stage, screen and radio actress whose career spanned six decades, and was regarde ...

– born 1879 – was named after ''The Newcomes'' character. ''Notes & Queries'' published correspondence about the name Ethel in 1872 because it was in fashion.Withycombe, E. G. (1945) ''The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names''; 2nd ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press; p. 102 The feminine name's popularity peaked in the 1890s. In the United States, it was the 7th most commonly given name for baby girls in the year 1894. Its use gradually declined during the 20th century, falling below rank 100 by 1940, and below rank 1000 in 1976. Ethel was also occasionally used as a masculine given name during the 1880s to 1910s, but never with any frequency (never rising above rank 400, or 0.02% in popularity).statistics cited afte
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People

Aethel Tollemache Aethel Tollemache (c. 1875–26 May 1955) was a British suffragette. Early life Tollemache was born in Rangoon, Burma in 1875. Her parents were Reverend Clement Reginald Tollemache and Frances Josephine Simpson. She was the great-granddaughte ...

(c. 1875–1955), British suffragette * Ethel Afamado (born 1940), Uruguayan composer, poet, guitarist, and singer-songwriter *

Ethel D. Allen Ethel D. Allen (May 8, 1929 – December 16, 1981) was an African Americans, African-American politician and physician from the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, who served as the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania un ...

(1929–1981), the first African-American woman to serve on Philadelphia City Council *

Ethel Anderson Ethel Campbell Louise Anderson (née Mason; 16 March 1883 – 4 August 1958) was an early twentieth century Australian poet, essayist, novelist and painter. She considered herself to be mainly a poet, but is now best appreciated for her witty an ...

(1883–1958), Australian poet, essayist, novelist and painter *

Ethel Percy Andrus Ethel Percy Andrus (September 21, 1884 – July 13, 1967) was a long-time educator and the first female high school principal in California. She was also an elder rights activist and the founder of AARP in 1958. In 1993, she was inducted in ...

(1884–1967), educator and founder of AARP *

Ethel Armes Ethel Marie Armes (1876 – 1945) was an American journalist, author and historian. Biography Ethel Marie Armes was born in Washington, D.C., to Col. George Augustus Armes and Lucy Hamilton Kerr (daughter of John Bozman Kerr), Armes was raised ...

(1876–1945), American journalist and historian *

Ethel Armitage Ethel Isabel Armitage (21 June 1873 – 17 October 1957) was a British archer. She competed at the 1908 Summer Olympics The 1908 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the IV Olympiad and also known as London 1908) were an internati ...

(1873–1957), British archer and 1908 Olympic competitor *

Ethel Ayler Ethyl Spraggins Ayler (May 1, 1930 – November 18, 2018) was an American character actress with a career spanning over five decades. Biography Ayler was born in Whistler, Alabama and graduated from Fisk University. In 1957, she made her of ...

(1934–2018), American stage and film actress *

Ethel Azama Ethel Azama (August 28, 1934 – March 7, 1984) was an American jazz and popular singer and recording artist. She sang regularly in nightclubs and other concert venues between the mid-1950s and 1984. Ethel was born and raised in Honolulu, H ...

(1934–1984), American jazz and popular singer *

(1879–1959), American stage and screen actress *

Ethel Bentham Ethel Bentham, (5 January 1861 – 19 January 1931) was a progressive medical doctor, a politician and a suffragist in the United Kingdom. She was born in London, educated at Alexandra School and College in Dublin, the London School of Medici ...

(1861–1931), English doctor, politician and suffragette *

Ethel Blondin-Andrew Ethel Dorothy Blondin-Andrew (born 25 March 1951) is a Canadian politician, educator, and public servant. She became the first Indigenous woman to be elected to the Parliament of Canada in 1988 when she became a member of Parliament for the ...

(born 1951), Canadian politician and parliamentarian *

Ethel Booba Ethyl Cayoca Gabison (born December 17, 1976), also known by her stage name Ethel Booba, is a Filipina TV personality, author, singer, and comedian. She has also worked in the recording industry. She was the first to be crowned as the celebri ...

(born 1976), Filipino comedian, TV personality, singer and author * Ethel Branch, American attorney and politician *

Ethel Cain Hayden Silas Anhedönia (born March 24, 1998), known professionally as Ethel Cain, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and model. Anhedönia is noted for her lyrics focused on nostalgic and Southern Gothic themes, while her music ...

(born 1998), American singer-songwriter * Ethel Catherwood (1908–1987), Canadian high jump gold medalist in the 1928 Olympics * Ethel Clay Price (1874–1943), American nurse and socialite * Ethel Clayton (1882–1966), American silent-film actress * Ethel Cox (born 1888), British

suffragette A suffragette was a member of an activist women's organisation in the early 20th century who, under the banner "Votes for Women", fought for the right to vote in public elections in the United Kingdom. The term refers in particular to members ...

* Ethel Evans (1866–1929), American impressionist painter * Ethel Harriet Comyns-Lewer (1861–1946), British ornithologist and periodical editor, publisher and owner * Ethel Dovey (1882–1920), American stage actress and singer *

Ethel McGhee Davis Ethel Elizabeth McGhee Davis (November 30, 1899July 13, 1990) was an American educator, social worker, and college administrator. She served as the student adviser (1928–1931) and as the Dean of Women (1931–1932) for Spelman College in Atla ...

(1899–1990), American educator, social worker, and college administrator *

Ethel Roosevelt Derby Ethel Carow Derby ( Roosevelt; August 13, 1891 – December 10, 1977) was the youngest daughter and fourth child of Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States. Known as "The Queen" or "The First Lady of Oyster Bay" by its Long Islan ...

(1891–1977), younger daughter of U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt * Ethel de Fraine (1879–1918), British botanist * Ethel Gilbert, American expert in the risks of radiation-induced cancer * Ethel Hillyer Harris (1859-1931), American author * Ethel Hatch (1869–1975), British muse of Lewis Carroll *

Ethel Hays Ethel Hays (March 13, 1892 – March 19, 1989) was an American syndicated cartoonist specializing in flapper-themed comic strips in the 1920s and 1930s. She drew in Art Deco style. In the later part of her career, during the 1940s and 1950s, she ...

(1892–1989), American cartoonist and illustrator * Ethel Haythornthwaite (1894–1986), English environmental campaigner and a pioneer of countryside protection * E. Ann Hoefly (1919–2003), American brigadier general * Ethel Johnson (athlete) (1908–1964), English sprinter *

Ethel Johnson (wrestler) Ethel Blanche Hairston ( Wingo; May 14, 1935 – September 14, 2018) was an American professional wrestler whose ring name was Ethel Johnson. She debuted at age 16, becoming the first African-American Women's professional wrestling, women's cham ...

(1935–2018), American professional wrestler *

Ethel Kennedy Ethel Kennedy ( ; April 11, 1928 – October 10, 2024) was an American human rights advocate. She was the widow of U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, a sister-in-law of U.S. president John F. Kennedy, and a daughter of businessman Geor ...

(1928–2024), American widow of Robert F. Kennedy * Ethel Lang (actress) (1902–1995), Australian actress * Ethel Lang (supercentenarian) (1900–2015), British supercentenarian and the last Victorian *

Ethel Leach Mary Ethel Leach (1850 or 1851 – April 1936) was a British politician. Life Leach grew up in Great Yarmouth and married an ironmonger, the couple sharing a commitment to radical (politics), radical politics. In 1881, she was elected to the G ...

(1850 or 1851–1936), British politician * Ethel Lote (1920–2024), British World War II nurse and yoga instructor * Ethel MacDonald (1909–1960), Scottish anarchist, activist and propagandist *

Ethel Merman Ethel Merman (born Ethel Agnes Zimmermann; January 16, 1908 – February 15, 1984) was an American singer and actress. Known for her distinctive, powerful voice, and her leading roles in musical theatre, musical theater,Obituary ''Variety Obitua ...

(1908–1984), American actress and singer * Ethel Isabel Moody (1905–1941), American mathematician * Ethel Moore (1872-1920), American civic, education, and national defense work leader * Ethel Rogers Mulvany (1904–1992), Canadian social worker and educator * Ethel L. Payne (1911–1991), African-American journalist * Ethel Rosenberg (1915–1953), American executed for espionage *

Ethel Schwabacher Ethel Kremer Schwabacher (born May 20, 1903, New York, New York, U.S.— died November 25, 1984, New York, New York, U.S.) was an influential abstract expressionist painter, represented by the Betty Parsons Gallery in the 1950s and 1960s. She ...

(1903–1984), American abstract expressionist painter * Ethel Shannon (1898–1951), American silent-film actress *

Ethel Smith (organist) Ethel Smith (born Ethel Goldsmith; November 22, 1902 – May 10, 1996) was an American organist who played primarily in a pop or Latin style on the Hammond organ. In the 1940s, she had founded the Ethel Smith Music Corporation for the publicat ...

(1902–1996), American organist and recording artist *

Ethel Smyth Dame Ethel Mary Smyth (; 22 April 18588 May 1944) was an English composer and a member of the women's suffrage movement. Her compositions include songs, works for piano, chamber music, orchestral works, choral works and operas. Smyth tended ...

(1858–1944), English composer and women's-suffrage leader *

Ethel Teare Ethel Teare (January 11, 1894 – March 4, 1959) was an American silent film actress from Phoenix, Arizona. Screen comedian Her first film appearances came in 1914. She performed in ''The Widow's Might'', ''Fatty and the Shyster Lawyer'', ''T ...

(1894–1959), American silent-film actress *

Ethel Grey Terry Ethel Grey Terry (October 2, 1882 – January 6, 1931) was an American actress of the silent era. She is best remembered for her role in '' The Penalty'' with Lon Chaney. Early years Ethel Grey Terry was born in Oakland, California, the ...

(1882–1931), American silent-film actress * Ethel L. M. Thorpe (1908–2001), British-Canadian nurse *

Ethel Turner Ethel Turner (24 January 1872 – 8 April 1958) was an English-born Australian novelist and children's literature writer. Life She was born Ethel Mary Burwell in Doncaster in England. Her father died when she was two, leaving her mother Sarah ...

(1872–1958), Australian novelist and children's writer * Ethel Lilian Voynich (1864–1960), English novelist and musician

Fictional characters

* Ethel Ambrewster, a character in the sitcom ''

The Ropers ''The Ropers'' is an American sitcom television series that aired on American Broadcasting Company, ABC from March 13, 1979, to May 15, 1980. It is a Spin-off (media), spin-off of ''Three's Company'' and loosely based on the British sitcom ''Geo ...

'' * Ethel Beavers, a character in the sitcom '' Parks and Recreation'' * Ethel Blackmore, a character in the webcomic '' Subnormality'' * Ethel Hallow, a character in ''

The Worst Witch ''The Worst Witch'' is a series of children's books written and illustrated by English author Jill Murphy. The series are primarily about a girl named Mildred Hubble who attends a witch school and fantasy stories, with eight books published. ...

'' book series by Jill Murphy * Ethel Janowski, a character in the film ''

Criminally Insane The insanity defense, also known as the mental disorder defense, is an affirmative defense by excuse in a criminal case, arguing that the defendant is not responsible for their actions due to a psychiatric disease at the time of the criminal act ...

'' * Ethel Mertz, a character in the television program ''

I Love Lucy ''I Love Lucy'' is an American sitcom that originally aired on CBS from October 15, 1951, to May 6, 1957, with a total of 180 half-hour episodes spanning six seasons. The series starred Lucille Ball and her husband Desi Arnaz, along with Vivian ...

'' * Ethel Mertz, a character from ''

The Howard Stern Show ''The Howard Stern Show'' is an American radio show hosted by Howard Stern that gained wide recognition when it was radio syndication, nationally syndicated on terrestrial radio from WINS-FM, WXRK in New York City, between 1986 and 2005. The sho ...

'' * Ethel Skinner, a character in the British soap opera ''

EastEnders ''EastEnders'' is a British television soap opera created by Julia Smith (producer), Julia Smith and Tony Holland which has been broadcast on BBC One since February 1985. Set in the fictional borough of Walford in the East End of London, the ...

'' * Ethel Sprocket, a character in the Canadian animated sitcom '' Ricky Sprocket: Showbiz Boy'' * Ethel Rogers, a character in Agatha Christie’s novel ''

And Then There Were None ''And Then There Were None'' is a mystery fiction, mystery novel by the English writer Agatha Christie, who described it as the most difficult of her books to write. It was first published in the United Kingdom by the Collins Crime Club on 6 N ...

'' * Ethel Thayer, a character in the play '' On Golden Pond'' * Big Ethel, a character in

Archie Comics Archie Comic Publications, Inc. (often referred to simply as Archie Comics) is an American comic book publisher headquartered in the village of Pelham, New York. The company's many titles feature the fictional teenagers Archie Andrews, Jug ...

* Silvercoat Ethel, a character in ''

Xenoblade Chronicles 3 ''Xenoblade Chronicles 3'' is a 2022 action role-playing game developed by Monolith Soft and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Switch. It is an installment in the open-world '' Xenoblade Chronicles'' series, itself a part of the larger '' Xe ...

'' * Auntie Ethel, a character in ''

Baldur's Gate 3 ''Baldur's Gate 3'' is a 2023 role-playing video game developed and published by Larian Studios. It is the third main installment of the ''Baldur's Gate'' series, based on the tabletop fantasy role-playing game ''Dungeons & Dragons''. A partial ...

References

{{given name English feminine given names Feminine given names Scottish feminine given names Old English given names

Etymology and historic usage

People

Fictional characters

See also

References