Ernie

Ernie - A very unique male name

Ernie appeared on the charts for the first time in 1913 on position #793. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Ernie and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Ernie? 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 Ernie. The baby boy name Ernie was given to 5 baby boys in 2025, ranking #3963 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 293,257 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Ernie peaked in popularity 81 years ago in 1945 on position 308.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Ernie, 1-5?

Ernie is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Ernie is currently topping the baby name charts in Texas at position #2,689 - and is the least popular in Texas at position #2,689.

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 Ernie is where you live.

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Ernie origin and meaning

English — short form of Ernest

A short form of Ernest, from Germanic eornost, 'serious, earnest'

Ernie is the everyday short form of Ernest, from a Germanic word for earnestness. It was given in its own right through the 20th century, peaking in 1959, helped by friendly bearers in sport. It is now rare enough to read as a deliberate retro choice.

Attested etymology

Ernie is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

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

Similar to Ernie

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

Erwin / Erin / Eren / Eron / Ehren / Ernan / Earnie / Erron / Erion / Eran /

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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 Ernie

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 Ernie 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 Ernie?

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-nee · /ˈɜːrni/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Erny — A rare phonetic spelling

Famous bearers

• Ernie Els — South African golfer, born Theodore Ernest Els and universally known as Ernie (b. 1969) Contemporary
• Ernie Hudson — American actor, known for Ghostbusters (b. 1945) Contemporary

Style

Nickname nameShort form

Why parents choose it

A warm, no-nonsense nickname name with a friendly mid-century feel.

Worth knowing

• Many will assume it is short for Ernest