Ernesto

Ernesto - A very unique male name

Ernesto appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #557. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Ernesto and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Ernesto? 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 Ernesto. The baby boy name Ernesto was given to 223 baby boys in 2025, ranking #883 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 6,575 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Ernesto peaked in popularity 45 years ago in 1981 on position 290.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Ernesto, 1-5?

Ernesto is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Ernesto is currently topping the baby name charts in Arizona at position #381 - and is the least popular in Illinois at position #1,172.

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 Ernesto is where you live.

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Ernesto origin and meaning

Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, from Germanic

The Romance form of Ernest — from the Germanic element ernust, 'serious, earnest, resolute'

Ernesto is Ernest as the Spanish-, Italian- and Portuguese-speaking worlds say it, and its towering bearer is Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, the Argentine revolutionary whose face became the century's most reproduced portrait. In the US it has been a steady presence since 1910 in Latino families, past its best years but holding a dignified place.

Attested etymology

Ernesto is a 7 letter name with 3 syllables.

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

Similar to Ernesto

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

Ernest / Earnest / 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 Ernesto

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 Ernesto 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 Ernesto?

3 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

air-NES-toh · /ɛərˈnɛstoʊ/

Around the world

• Ernest (English) — The English form of the same Germanic name
• Ernst (German) — The German form of the same name

Spellings and nicknames

• Ernest — The English form — a separate name

Nicknames: ErnieNesto

Famous bearers

• Ernesto 'Che' Guevara — Argentine revolutionary and a central figure of the Cuban Revolution, known worldwide as Che Guevara (1928–1967) Historical

Style

InternationalClassic

Why parents choose it

Ernesto carries seriousness in its very root and a revolutionary namesake — a name of conviction, chosen by families comfortable with both.

Worth knowing

• Che Guevara is a polarising figure: hero to some, villain to others, and the association is unavoidable
• Oscar Wilde's Ernest (and the 'earnest' pun) shadows the English form of the family