Ethel (also '' æthel'') is an

Old English Old English (, ), 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 was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, Anglo ...

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 fa ...

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, by joining a prefix and a suffix. For example, King Æþelred's name was derived from ', for "noble", and ', for "counsel". However, there are al ...

, both masculine and feminine, e.g.

Æthelhard Æthelhard (died 12 May 805) was a Bishop of Winchester then an Archbishop of Canterbury in medieval England. Appointed by King Offa of Mercia, Æthelhard had difficulties with both the Kentish monarchs and with a rival archiepiscopate in sou ...

Æthelred Æthelred (; ang, Æþelræd ) 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 prin ...

, Æthelwulf; Æthelburg,

Æthelflæd Æthelflæd, Lady of the Mercians ( 870 – 12 June 918) ruled Mercia in the English Midlands from 911 until her death. She was the eldest daughter of Alfred the Great, king of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex, and his wife Ealhswith. Æthe ...

Æthelthryth Æthelthryth (or Æðelþryð or Æþelðryþe; 23 June 679 AD) was an East Anglian princess, a Fenland and Northumbrian queen and Abbess of Ely. She is an Anglo-Saxon saint, and is also known as Etheldreda or Audrey, especially in religious ...

(

Audrey Audrey () is an English feminine given name. It is the Anglo-Norman form of the Anglo-Saxon name ''Æðelþryð'', composed of the elements '' æðel'' "noble" and ''þryð'' "strength". The Anglo-Norman form of the name was applied to Saint Aud ...

). 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 used in German-speaking countries, Scandinavia, the Netherlands and Flanders, France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Latin America and to a lesser extent in vari ...

(Æthelwulf),

Albert Albert may refer to: Companies * Albert (supermarket), a supermarket chain in the Czech Republic * Albert Heijn, a supermarket chain in the Netherlands * Albert Market, a street market in The Gambia * Albert Productions, a record label * Alber ...

(Adalbert), Adelheid (Adelaide), Edeltraut and Edelgard. Some of the feminine Anglo-Saxon names in Æthel- survived into the modern period (e.g.

Etheldred Benett Etheldred Anna Maria Benett (22 July 1776 – 11 January 1845) was an early English geologist often credited with being the first female geologist, having devoted much of her life to collecting and studying fossils that she discovered in South ...

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 a British novelist, author and illustrator. He is known for his satirical works, particularly his 1848 novel '' Vanity Fair'', a panoramic portrait of British society, and ...

(''

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 (1823–1901) 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 show her keen interest in matters of public health and sanitation. ...

(''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

* Ethel D. Allen (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 woman high school principal in California. She was also an elder rights activist and the founder of AARP in 1958. In 1993 she was inducted into t ...

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

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

(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 in London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the Un ...

(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 ...

(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 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 Medicine for W ...

(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 di ...

(born 1951), Canadian politician and parliamentarian *

Ethel Cain Hayden Silas Anhedönia (born March 24, 1998), known professionally as Ethel Cain, is an American singer-songwriter born in Tallahassee, Florida and living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In mid 2017, Cain began experimenting with writing, recordi ...

(born 1998), American singer-songwriter *

Ethel Catherwood Ethel Hannah Catherwood (April 28, 1908 – September 26, 1987) was a Canadian athlete. Born in Hannah, North Dakota, United States, Ethel Catherwood was raised and educated in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, where she excelled at baseball, ...

(1908–1987), Canadian high jump gold medalist in the 1928 Olympics *

Ethel Clay Price Ethel Clay Price (October 2, 1874 – October 26, 1943) was an American nurse and socialite. She was the first graduate from Watts Hospital Training School for Nurses in Durham, obtaining her nursing degree in 1897. She was married to insurance e ...

(1874–1943), American nurse and socialite *

Ethel Clayton Ethel Clayton (November 8, 1882 – June 6, 1966) was an American actress of the silent film era. Early years Born in Champaign, Illinois, Clayton attended St. Elizabeth's school in Chicago. Career Clayton debuted on stage as a professional ...

(1882–1966), American silent-film actress *

Ethel Dovey Ethel Dovey (January 12, 1882 – November 20, 1920) was an American singer and stage actress. Dovey was born into a large family and had two brothers and four sisters, one of which was Alice Dovey who she spent most of her childhood with train ...

(1882–1920), American stage actress and singer * Ethel McGhee Davis (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 the President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt. Known as "The Queen" or "The First Lady of Oyster Bay" by its Long Island ...

(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, sh ...

(1892–1989), American cartoonist and illustrator * E. Ann Hoefly (1919–2003), American brigadier general *

Ethel Johnson (athlete) Ethel Johnson (8 October 1908 – 30 March 1964) was an English athlete who competed for Great Britain in the 1932 Summer Olympics. She was born in Westhoughton, Lancashire and was a member of Bolton United Harriers. In 1932, she ...

(1908–1964), English sprinter * Ethel Johnson (wrestler) (1935–2018), American professional wrestler *

Ethel Kennedy Ethel Kennedy (' Skakel; born April 11, 1928) is an American human rights advocate. She is the widow of U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy, a sister-in-law of President John F. Kennedy, and the sixth child of George Skakel and Ann Brannack. Shortly ...

(born 1928), American widow of Robert F. Kennedy *

Ethel Lang (actress) Ethel Isabel Lang (1902 – November 1995), also known as Ethel Brunton, was an Australian actress prominent as a pioneering local radio performer during the 1930s, but also appeared in numerous stage roles. From the age of seven she appeared i ...

(1902–1995), Australian actress * Ethel Lang (supercentenarian) (1900–2015), British supercentenarian and the last Victorian * Ethel Leach (1850 or 1851–1936), British politician *

Ethel MacDonald Camelia Ethel MacDonald (24 February 1909 – 1 December 1960) was a Glasgow-based Scottish anarchist, activist, and 1937, Spanish Civil War broadcaster on pro-Republican, anti-Fascist Barcelona radio. Early years Camelia Ethel McDonald wa ...

(1909–1960), Scottish anarchist, activist and propagandist *

Ethel Merman Ethel Merman (born Ethel Agnes Zimmermann, January 16, 1908 – February 15, 1984) was an American actress and singer, known for her distinctive, powerful voice, and for leading roles in musical theatre.Obituary ''Variety'', February 22, 1984. ...

(1908–1984), American actress and singer * Ethel L. Payne (1911–1991), African-American journalist *

Ethel Rosenberg Julius Rosenberg (May 12, 1918 – June 19, 1953) and Ethel Rosenberg (; September 28, 1915 – June 19, 1953) were American citizens who were convicted of spying on behalf of the Soviet Union. The couple were convicted of providing top-secret i ...

(1915–1953), American executed for espionage * Ethel Schwabacher (1903–1984), American abstract expressionist painter *

Ethel Shannon Ethel Shannon (May 22, 1898 – July 10, 1951) was an American actress. She appeared in over 30 silent movies in the early 20th century. Early life and career Ethel Shannon was born in Denver, Colorado, the daughter of James and Agnes (Kn ...

(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. She had a long recording career and appeared in many films. Early life and caree ...

(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 t ...

(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 1870 – 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 J ...

(1872–1958), Australian novelist and children's writer *

Ethel Lilian Voynich Ethel Lilian Voynich, ''née'' Boole (11 May 1864 – 27 July 1960) was an Irish-born British novelist and musician, and a supporter of several revolutionary causes. She was born in Cork (city), Cork, but grew up in Lancashire, England. 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 ABC from March 13, 1979, to May 22, 1980. It is a spin-off of ''Three's Company'' and loosely based on the British sitcom ''George and Mildred'', which was itself a spin-off of ...

'' * Ethel Beavers, a character in the sitcom ''

Parks and Recreation ''Parks and Recreation'' (also known as ''Parks and Rec'') is an American political satire mockumentary sitcom television series created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur. The series aired on NBC from April 9, 2009, to February 24, 2015, for 125 ...

'' * Ethel Blackmore, a character in the webcomic ''

Subnormality ''Subnormality'' is a satirical and often absurdist webcomic by a cartoonist who uses the pseudonym Winston Rowntree. Rowntree is a former resident of Regina, Saskatchewan who now lives in Toronto, Ontario. The strip appears at Rowntree's own webs ...

'' * Ethel Hallow, a character in ''

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

'' 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 an episodic psychiatric disease at the time of the cr ...

'' *

Ethel Mertz Ethel Mae Mertz (née Potter) (alternately Ethel Louise, Ethel May, and Ethel Roberta), played by Vivian Vance, is one of the four main fictional characters in the highly popular 1950s American television sitcom '' I Love Lucy''. Ethel is the middl ...

, a character in the television program ''

I Love Lucy ''I Love Lucy'' is an American television 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 show starred Lucille Ball, her husband, Desi Arnaz, along with ...

'' * 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 nationally syndicated on terrestrial radio from WXRK in New York City, between 1986 and 2005. The show has aired on Howard 100 a ...

'' *

Ethel Skinner Ethel Skinner is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera '' EastEnders'', played by Gretchen Franklin. Ethel also features in a 1988 ''EastEnders'' special episode, entitled "CivvyStreet", set on Albert Square during World War II, in which ...

, a character in the British soap opera ''

EastEnders ''EastEnders'' is a Television in the United Kingdom, British 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 Ea ...

'' * 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 novel by the English writer Agatha Christie, described by her as the most difficult of her books to write. It was first published in the United Kingdom by the Collins Crime Club on 6 November 1939, as ...

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

Archie Comics Archie Comic Publications, Inc., is an American comic book publisher headquartered in Pelham, New York.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. Released on July 29, it is the fourth installment of the open-world ''Xenoblade Chronicles'' franchise, an ...

References

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

Etymology and historic usage

People

Fictional characters

See also

References