Ethel \e-thel\ as a girl's name is pronounced ETH-el. It is of Old English origin, and the meaning of Ethel is "noble". Short form of old names like Etheldreda. First used as an independent name in the 1840s. Actresses Ethel Barrymore, Ethel Merman.
Ethel has 19 variant forms: Atal, Ehtel, Etel, Etha, Ethelda, Etheleen, Ethelene, Ethelin, Ethelinda, Etheline, Ethelyn, Ethelynne, Ethill, Ethille, Ethlin, Ethlyn, Ethlynn, Ethyl and Ethyll.