Irish variant of Ethel derived from Old German "noble".

This popular 20^th century name honours Ethel Mary Quinn born 1907  She was known as Edel due, apparently, to her inability to say Ethel as a child. As Edel Quinn, despite very poor health, she worked to help Dublin's poorest and later was a missionary in Africa. She died in 1944 and was declared "venerable" by Pope John Paul II in 1994.