A female given name of Old English origin meaning noble. Sometimes used to refer to elderly or old-fashioned women in general.
From Old English 'æthel' meaning noble or noble birth, a common element in Anglo-Saxon names. The name gained popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries but declined significantly by mid-century.
Ethel was the 10th most popular name for American girls in 1900 but virtually disappeared by 2000, making it a perfect barometer of changing naming fashions and generational identity. The name's association with an older generation has made it ripe for ironic revival among hipster parents seeking deliberately unfashionable choices.
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