Ernest
Ernest is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Serious, earnest, or vigor.
Origin and history
Ernest is a masculine name derived from Germanic roots associated with seriousness and zeal. It was widely popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States and remains a traditional classic today. While its popularity has declined from its historical peak, it remains steadily used.
Popularity in the United States
302,499 babies in the United States have been named Ernest since 1880. It ranks #120 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #982.
States where it is most popular
- TX (7 %)
- CA (6.9 %)
- NY (6.6 %)
- PA (5.4 %)
- NC (4.2 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 6,700 |
| 1890-1900 | 7,877 |
| 1900-1910 | 8,657 |
| 1910-1920 | 37,134 |
| 1920-1930 | 53,653 |
| 1930-1940 | 39,346 |
| 1940-1950 | 41,762 |
| 1950-1960 | 39,680 |
| 1960-1970 | 26,892 |
| 1970-1980 | 16,756 |
| 1980-1990 | 11,236 |
| 1990-2000 | 6,054 |
| 2000-2010 | 3,332 |
| 2010-2019 | 2,211 |
| 2020-2029 | 1,209 |
Famous people named Ernest
- Ernest Hemingway: Author, Journalist
- Ernest Rutherford: Physicist, Chemist
- Ernest Borgnine: Actor
Nicknames
Ernie, Ern
Fun facts
- The name gained major cultural visibility through Oscar Wilde's famous play 'The Importance of Being Earnest'.
- Ernest was consistently among the top 50 most popular names for boys in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.