Earnest
Earnest is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Serious, resolute, or eager.
Origin and history
Earnest is an English name derived from the Germanic word 'eornost', meaning serious or resolute. It was popularized in the English-speaking world during the 19th century alongside virtue names. While it was widely used in the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it is used less frequently today.
Popularity in the United States
58,389 babies in the United States have been named Earnest since 1880. It ranks #457 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1788.
States where it is most popular
- TX (10.5 %)
- AL (9.6 %)
- GA (9.6 %)
- MS (9.4 %)
- NC (5.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 1,043 |
| 1890-1900 | 1,390 |
| 1900-1910 | 1,907 |
| 1910-1920 | 6,856 |
| 1920-1930 | 10,869 |
| 1930-1940 | 8,722 |
| 1940-1950 | 8,706 |
| 1950-1960 | 7,310 |
| 1960-1970 | 4,515 |
| 1970-1980 | 2,961 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,995 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,053 |
| 2000-2010 | 559 |
| 2010-2019 | 364 |
| 2020-2029 | 139 |
Famous people named Earnest
- Earnest Graham: American football player
- Earnest Byner: American football player, Coach
Nicknames
Ernie, Ern
Fun facts
- The name shares its sound with the title of Oscar Wilde's famous 1895 play, 'The Importance of Being Earnest'.
- Earnest ranked among the top 100 male names in the United States around the turn of the 20th century.