Quick answer
Ethel is a girl name meaning "noble".
Meaning and 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, and 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). The name had greatly declined in popularity by the middle of the 20th century.
Notes and context
Usage: english