Ether
In organic chemistry, ethers are a class of compounds that contain an ether group, a single oxygen atom bonded to two separate carbon atoms, each part of an organyl group. They have the general formula R−O−R′, where R and R′ represent the organyl groups.
Meaning & Origin of Ether
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
In organic chemistry, ethers are a class of compounds that contain an ether group, a single oxygen atom bonded to two separate carbon atoms, each part of an organyl group. They have the general formula R−O−R′, where R and R′ represent the organyl groups.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Origin & history
The Story of Ether
As a girl name
Ether first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1883, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1921, when 48 Ethers were born — ranking #1,092 that year. As of 2026, Ether ranks #6,008 for girls with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 1K Ethers have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Ether first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1914, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1922, when 8 Ethers were born — ranking #3,252 that year. As of 2026, Ether ranks #12,153 for boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 71 Ethers have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Ether
Phonetically similar names — useful when Ether is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ether
What does the name Ether mean?
How popular is Ether in 2026?
When was Ether most popular?
In which U.S. states is Ether most popular?
Is Ether a unisex name?
What names go well with Ether?
About the name Ether
Ether is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1883 and has accumulated 1K births in the dataset. Ether's peak popularity came in 1921 when it ranked #1,092. Use the chart and map above to compare Ether's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1921 →
- Names of the 1920s →
- Names starting with "E" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.