ethel

Ethel is a feminine given name of Old English origin. It derives from the element æthel, meaning noble. The name has appeared in English-speaking cultures since medieval times and gained particular popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Usage. In the United States, the United Kingdom, and other English-speaking countries, Ethel was a common name for girls in the early 20th century and has since declined in use.

Notable people. Notable individuals named Ethel include the American actress Ethel Barrymore; the singer and actress Ethel Waters; the musical theatre star Ethel Merman; the philanthropist Ethel Kennedy, wife of Robert F. Kennedy; and the British composer and suffragist Ethel Smyth.

In fiction. In popular culture, Ethel Mertz is a character on the American television show I Love Lucy, serving as the friend and landlady of the main characters. The name has also appeared in various novels and films, typically as a traditional, upper- or middle-class given name.

See also. The name is distinct from Ethyl, a term used in chemistry, and from related names such as acronyms or diminutives that may vary by language or culture.