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How Many People Are Named Ethel?
Estimated people named Ethel living in the U.S. today
32,989
Gender distribution
1% male · 99% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 280,380
- Peak year: 1918 (8,110 births)
- Estimated living today: 32,989
Ethel by age group — who carries the name today?
Ethel popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Ethel
Ethel has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 280,380 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 32,989 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 10,361 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Ethels you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Ethel in the US?
An estimated 32,989 people named Ethel are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Ethel rare — about 1 in 10,361 Americans.
Is Ethel a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Ethel is 1% male and 99% female, so it is predominantly a female name.
When was Ethel most popular?
Ethel peaked in 1918, when 8,110 babies were given the name. Its current trend is rising compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Ethel?
Ethel ranks #1,172 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 47 out of 100 (higher means rarer).