Ernest

Ernest - A very unique male name

Ernest appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #31. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Ernest and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Ernest? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Ernest. The baby boy name Ernest was given to 168 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1023 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 8,728 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Ernest peaked in popularity 116 years ago in 1910 on position 31.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Ernest, 1-5?

Ernest is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Ernest is currently topping the baby name charts in Nebraska at position #459 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #1,365.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Ernest is where you live.

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Ernest origin and meaning

Germanic

From Old High German Ernust, 'serious, earnest, resolute' — the virtue of earnestness

Ernest is the Germanic earnestness name, in English use since the Norman era and huge in the Victorian age — Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest played on it in 1895. It peaked in the US in 1921 and is now a serious, old-fashioned choice.

Attested etymology

Ernest is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Ernest, pop culture references for the name Ernest and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Ernest

We've found the following names that sound similar to Ernest, sorted by popularity.

Earnest / Ernesto / Ermias / Ernst /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Ernest

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Ernest a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Ernest?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

UR-nest · /ˈɜrnəst/

Around the world

• Ernst (German) — The German form.
• Ernesto (Spanish) — The Spanish form.
• Ernesto (Italian) — The Italian form.
• Ernest (French) — Used as-is in French.

Spellings and nicknames

• Ernst — The German form, rare as a US given name spelling.
• Earnest — The virtue-word spelling, a separate entry.

Nicknames: ErnieErn

Famous bearers

• Ernest Hemingway — American novelist, Nobel laureate (1899–1961) Historical
• Ernest Shackleton — Anglo-Irish Antarctic explorer (1874–1922) Historical

Style

ClassicVirtue

Why parents choose it

Ernest suits parents reviving sincere, sturdy Victorian names — and it comes with Ernie as a built-in friendly short form. It is well below its peak, so it feels considered rather than trendy.

Worth knowing

• The adjective 'earnest' is both its meaning and a possible tease — Wilde built a whole play on the pun.
• Ernie will invite Sesame Street jokes in childhood.