Ethel vs Richard

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Ethel

Girl #4,921 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"noble"

Origin: Old English 'æthel'

English American British

✓ All Clear

Boy #232 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"strong ruler, powerful leader"

Origin: Germanic

English French German Spanish Italian

12 High Risk

{:type=>:nickname, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Richard' can be twisted to 'bitch'"}

Ethel Rank #4,921

Richard Rank #232

Richard is more popular, ranked #232 vs #4921 for Ethel.

Is Ethel or Richard more popular?

Richard is more popular, ranked #232 compared to Ethel at #4921 in the United States.

What do Ethel and Richard mean?

Ethel means "noble" (Old English 'æthel' origin). Richard means "strong ruler, powerful leader" (Germanic origin).

Are Ethel and Richard boy or girl names?

Ethel is primarily a girl name. Richard is primarily a boy name.