I have a trend that I’ve gotten attached to of honoring my great aunts, ([name_f]Marjorie[/name_f] for [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], [name_f]Theodora[/name_f] for [name_f]Dorothy[/name_f], etc.), but [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] has me stumped. The only thing I can think of is the Anglo-[name_u]Saxon[/name_u] [name_m]Aethelred[/name_m] 
., and the sound of [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] immediately reminds me of ethyl alcohol lol. Also not too thrilled about any ‘[name_f]Beth[/name_f]’ names either. Any ideas?
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Maybe [name_f]Elle[/name_f] or [name_f]Elle[/name_f] name ([name_f]Eloise[/name_f], [name_f]Ellen[/name_f], [name_f]Adele[/name_f] or [name_f]Elowen[/name_f])?
Esther
[name_f]Edith[/name_f]
[name_f]Etta[/name_f]
Any name meaning [name_u]Noble[/name_u], the same meaning as [name_f]Ethel[/name_f], might work for you as well, but I feel like it loses its meaning.
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Ethena
[name_f]Elspeth[/name_f]
[name_f]Gwyneth[/name_f]
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According to Behind the Name,[name_f]Adela[/name_f] is a related name to [name_f]Ethel[/name_f]. That seems to fit nicely with [name_f]Marjorie[/name_f] and [name_m]Theodora[/name_m].
Also, [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] means “noble” so maybe that could be used in some way.
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Adele (same meaning and similar sound)
[name_f]Etta[/name_f]
[name_f]Estelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Ettie[/name_f]
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What about…
Etta
[name_f]Wilhelmina[/name_f]
[name_f]Elle[/name_f]
[name_f]Ella[/name_f]
[name_f]Thelma[/name_f]
[name_f]Thalia[/name_f]
[name_f]Tillie[/name_f]
[name_f]Estelle[/name_f]
[name_f]Stella[/name_f]
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Athena maybe?
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Effie?
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[name_f]Audrey[/name_f]? It is a medieval diminutive of Æthelthryth / Æðelþryð.
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I’m with you, my brain goes straight to Aethred as well heh.
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Gweneth, [name_f]Gwyneth[/name_f]
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Ellen
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Lilleth / [name_f]Lillith[/name_f] is a cool inversion of the name!
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Leti, short for [name_f]Leticia[/name_f] /Laeticia is similar
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If you have a boy, either [name_u]Seth[/name_u] or [name_u]Leith[/name_u] could honor [name_f]Ethel[/name_f].
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Edith?
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Althea! It fits right in with [name_f]Marjorie[/name_f] and [name_f]Theodora[/name_f]. Other ideas:
Alethea
[name_f]Aletha[/name_f]
Ethony
[name_f]Luneth[/name_f]
[name_f]Arleth[/name_f]
[name_f]Elethea[/name_f]
There’s always [name_f]Ethelda[/name_f] (maybe as a middle?)
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Seconding [name_f]Estelle[/name_f], [name_f]Elspeth[/name_f], [name_f]Thelma[/name_f], [name_f]Alethea[/name_f], [name_f]Luneth[/name_f], and [name_f]Ethelda[/name_f] for [name_f]Ethel[/name_f]!
While sound-wise [name_f]Audrey[/name_f] is quite a bit different, there is etymological connections and in general names with “noble” in the meaning could be a fitting choice like:
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]/ [name_f]Adele[/name_f]/ [name_f]Adelina[/name_f]/ [name_f]Adeline[/name_f]
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]/ [name_f]Alison[/name_f]/ [name_u]Allison[/name_u]
[name_f]Audra[/name_f]
[name_f]Elke[/name_f]/ [name_f]Elka[/name_f]
[name_f]Heidi[/name_f]
[name_f]Freyja[/name_f]/ [name_f]Freya[/name_f]
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Etta, Ethena, Ethella (ee-thell-a) [name_f]Ettie[/name_f], [name_f]Bethel[/name_f], Etherial, Ethene (e-theen), Etheria, Thella. Thelene (has name [name_f]Ethel[/name_f] in it and pronounced the-leen.)soft th sound as in ethel.
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I’d personally suggest [name_f]Estelle[/name_f].
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I like [name_f]Effie[/name_f]?
Maybe Thea or Thalia
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Thanks for all of the feedback, everyone!
I already have [name_f]Adela[/name_f]/Adele on my list simply because I love the sound, but I never really connected it with having the same meaning as [name_f]Ethel[/name_f]! I will definitely consider using her more seriously now. I also quite like the suggestion of Ethella. How lovely!
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I think [name_f]Effie[/name_f] or [name_f]Elspeth[/name_f] would be cool names to use.
Ethel means “noble maiden,” so you could go for a name with a similar meaning.
Names meaning “noble” -
[name_f]Ada[/name_f]
[name_f]Audrey[/name_f]
[name_f]Alice[/name_f]
[name_f]Freya[/name_f]
[name_f]Heidi[/name_f]
And [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] mean “maiden.”
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