Ethel

Meaning: Its source is an Ancient Germanic expression meaning "Noble."

Languages: This girl's name is used in German and English.

Compound Forms: Ethelyn and Ethlyn

Alternative Spellings: Ethyl

Variant Forms: Ehtel, Etha, Ethelene, Ethelda, Etheleen and Atal

Non-English Forms: Etel

Popularity: The name Ethel ranked 125th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

This name is highly rated in the 1990 U.S. Census popularity survey of all ages, but after 1960 does not appear in the state data listing the most popular baby names.

Narrative: This is an element in a number of Ancient Germanic names, such as Ethelinda, Etheldreda and Ethelberta.

It was a practice of the Anglo-Saxons (who ruled Britain before the Norman Conquest and spoke an Ancient Germanic tongue) to name several offspring using common name elements. Three daughters in the same family named Ethelinda, Etheldreda and Ethelberta would not have been unusual.

Arts and Music

Ethel Leginska (born 1880, died 1970)
American conductor and musician.
- Founded the Boston Philharmonic in 1926 (see list of Conductors)

Miscellaneous

Ethel Percy Andrus (born 1884, died 1967)
Founder of the American Association of Retired Persons.
- Member of National Women''s Hall of Fame (see list of National Women's Hall of Fame Members)
Ethel
- Variety of rose (see list of Rose Names)

Sports

Ethel Catherwood
Canadian athlete.
- 1928 Olympic track and field gold medal winner for High Jump (see list of Olympic Gold Medalists in the High Jump)
Ethel Lackie
American athlete.
- 1924 Olympic swimming gold medal winner for 100m Freestyle (see list of Olympic Gold Medalists in Freestyle Swimming)
Ethel Larcombe
- 1912 Wimbledon tennis champion (see list of Wimbledon Tennis Champions)
Ethel Sabatnik
- Member of the Women''s International Bowling Congress Hall of Fame (see list of Women's International Bowling Congress Hall of Fame)

Stage and Screen

Ethel Barrymore (born 1879, died 1959)
American actress.
- 1944 Academy Award winner for her performance in None But the Lonely Heart (see list of Oscar Winners for Best Supporting Actress)
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture (see list of Movie Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
Ethel Clayton
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture (see list of Movie Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
Ethel Merman (born 1909, died 1984)
American singer and actress.
- 1951 Tony Award winner for her performance in Call Me Madam (see list of Tony Winners for Best Actress in a Musical)
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Picture (see list of Movie Personalities with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
- Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording (see list of Recording Personalites with Stars in the Hollywood Walk of Fame)
Ethel Mertz
Fictional character.
- Portrayed by Vivian Vance (see list of Characters on ''I Love Lucy'')