Total births
2,395
Girls' name · since 1880
Ethyl
Since 1880, U.S. Social Security records show 2,395 babies named Ethyl, peaking in 1915. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 2,395
- total births
- 1880–1971
- years on record
- 1910s
- peak decade
- 27%
- born in that decade
2,395 girls have been named Ethyl since 1880, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Ethyl recorded 2,395 times among girls since 1880, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1910s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1880 to 1971.
- 2,395 total births
- 1880–1971 years on record
- 1910s peak decade
- 27% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
2,395 girls have been named Ethyl since 1880, peaking in the 1910s, last recorded in 1971.
- 2,395
- total births
- 1880–1971
- years on record
- 1910s
- peak decade
- 27%
- born in that decade
1910s
Peak decade
27% of everyone ever named Ethyl was born in this single decade.
1915
Single peak year
92 babies were named Ethyl in 1915 - its busiest year on record.
Ethyl's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Ethyl's full recorded timeline at 1921, 37% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 63% in the earlier half -- the name was more prevalent in its earlier era than it is today. Its quietest year on record was 1956, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1915 peak of 92 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Ethyl at a glance
Last recorded 1971Peak year
1915
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1880
Ethyl popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1880–1971
- Peak year (1915)
- 92
- Annual births at peak, across 92 years of records
Ethyl by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1910s was Ethyl's strongest decade.
654 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 27% of all-time use.
Ethyl births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 151
1880s
151 births
- 1890s
1890s
344 births
- 1900s
1900s
319 births
- 1910s
1910s
654 births
- 1920s
1920s
474 births
- 1930s 209
1930s
209 births
- 1940s 151
1940s
151 births
- 1950s 77
1950s
77 births
- 1960s 11
1960s
11 births
- 1970s 5
1970s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1910s at 654 births (27% of all-time use).
How Ethyl compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Ethyl's total volume
Ethyl vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Ethyl by state
Where Ethyl concentrates geographically, total births since 1880
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Pennsylvania | | 93 | 3.9% |
| #2 | Illinois | | 42 | 1.8% |
| #3 | New York | | 34 | 1.4% |
| #4 | Ohio | | 27 | 1.1% |
| #5 | Texas | | 21 | 0.9% |
| #6 | California | | 10 | 0.4% |
| #7 | Michigan | | 6 | 0.3% |
| #8 | Minnesota | | 6 | 0.3% |
Pennsylvania share of Ethyl's total US births 3.9%
Even split
93 of 2,395 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 13 reporting states.
Ethyl appears in 13 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Ethyl? ▼
Ethyl has been given to 2,395 babies in the U.S. since 1880, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1971. 92 babies were born in 1915, its single highest year.
When was Ethyl most popular? ▼
Ethyl was most popular in the 1910s decade with 654 total births. The single peak year was 1915.
Where is Ethyl most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Ethyl are Pennsylvania (93 births), Illinois (42 births), New York (34 births).
How long has the name Ethyl been used? ▼
Records for Ethyl go back to 1880, giving 92 years of history through 1971.
What names are similar to Ethyl? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Ethel, Ethelyn, Ethelene, Etha, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Ethyl's data
- Ethyl's decade-level peak was the 1910s (654 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 1970s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Pennsylvania records the most Ethyls (93 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Pennsylvania names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Ethyl
Nearby Names Like Ethyl
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Ethyl
Ethel Girl
#4893 278,922 births
Ethelyn Girl
4,450 births
Ethelene Girl
1,837 births
Etha Girl
1,802 births
Ether Girl
1,214 births
Compare Ethyl side by side: Ethyl vs Ethel Ethyl vs Ethelyn Ethyl vs Ethelene
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1880–1971 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Ethyl: Baby Name Since 1880 - 2,395 Births, Peak 1915." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/ethyl. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Ethyl draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.