Gender Feminine
Usage English
Pronounced Pron. ETH-əl  [key·IPA]

Meaning & History

Short form of names beginning with the Old English element æðele meaning "noble". It was coined in the 19th century, when many Old English names were revived. It was popularized by the novels The Newcomes (1855) by William Makepeace Thackeray and The Daisy Chain (1856) by C. M. Yonge. A famous bearer was American actress and singer Ethel Merman (1908-1984).

Related Names

DiminutiveEthelyn
Other Languages & CulturesAlina(Belarusian) Adelina(Bulgarian) Adéla(Czech) Ada(Dutch) Aada, Ada(Finnish) Adèle, Adélie, Adeline, Aline, Lina, Line, Lyna(French) Adele, Ada, Alina(German) Adela, Adelina, Ada(Germanic) Adél, Ada(Hungarian) Adele, Adelina, Ada, Alina(Italian) Alīna(Latvian) Adelė(Lithuanian) Ada(Norwegian) Adela, Ada, Alina(Polish) Adelina(Portuguese) Aline(Portuguese (Brazilian)) Adela, Adelina, Alina(Romanian) Alina(Russian) Adela(Slovak) Alina(Slovene) Adela, Adelia, Adelina, Ada, Alina(Spanish) Adelita(Spanish (Latin American)) Alina(Ukrainian)
User SubmissionÉthel

Popularity

People think this name is

classic   mature   formal   upper class   natural   wholesome   refined   strange   simple   serious  

Name Days

Estonia: December 16

Images

Ethel Merman in the movie 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' (1938)Ethel Merman in the movie 'Alexander's Ragtime Band' (1938)

Categories

Entry updated December 7, 2022