Ernst
Ernst is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Serious, earnest, or vigor.
Origin and history
Ernst is a traditional German name derived from an Old High German word meaning serious or earnest. It was moderately used in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries but has since become rare. Today, it offers a vintage, classic European alternative to the English name Ernest.
Popularity in the United States
2,383 babies in the United States have been named Ernst since 1880. It ranks #2659 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1922.
States where it is most popular
- NY (31.3 %)
- WI (29 %)
- IL (15.4 %)
- FL (7.6 %)
- MO (7.1 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 117 |
| 1890-1900 | 97 |
| 1900-1910 | 72 |
| 1910-1920 | 371 |
| 1920-1930 | 350 |
| 1930-1940 | 281 |
| 1940-1950 | 202 |
| 1950-1960 | 208 |
| 1960-1970 | 182 |
| 1970-1980 | 149 |
| 1980-1990 | 162 |
| 1990-2000 | 98 |
| 2000-2010 | 59 |
| 2010-2019 | 30 |
| 2020-2029 | 5 |
Famous people named Ernst
- Ernst Mach: Physicist, Philosopher
- Ernst Lubitsch: Film Director, Producer
- Ernst Mayr: Biologist, Taxonomist
Fun facts
- Ernst is the original German spelling of the English name Ernest, made famous by Oscar Wilde's play The Importance of Being Earnest.
- Most U.S. birth records for Ernst date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries following German immigration waves.