Unisex · #5,031 in 2026

Ermine

The stoat, also known as the Eurasian ermine or ermine, is a species of mustelid native to Eurasia and the northern regions of North America. Because of its wide circumpolar distribution, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The name ermine is used especially in its pure white winter coat of the stoat or its fur.

Current Rank
#5,031
Peak Rank
#1,652 (1917)
Total Babies
522
5-Yr Trend
Stable
👧 Girl peak #1,652 (522 total)
👦 Boy peak #3,217 (67 total)
👧As Girl Name
1883
First Year
1959
Last Year
1917
Peak Year
#1652
Peak Rank
522
Total Count
51
Years Active
👦As Boy Name
1906
First Year
1957
Last Year
1917
Peak Year
#3217
Peak Rank
67
Total Count
12
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Ermine

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

The stoat, also known as the Eurasian ermine or ermine, is a species of mustelid native to Eurasia and the northern regions of North America. Because of its wide circumpolar distribution, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The name ermine is used especially in its pure white winter coat of the stoat or its fur.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
The root word for "stoat" is likely either the Dutch word stout ("bold") or the Gothic word 𐍃𐍄𐌰𐌿𐍄𐌰𐌽 ( stautan , "to push"). According to John Guillim , in his Display of Heraldrie , the word "ermine" is likely derived from Armenia, the nation where it was thought the species originated, though other authors have linked it to the Norman French from the Teutonic harmin ( Anglo-Saxon hearma ). This seems to come from the Lithuanian word šarmu . In North America it is called a short-tailed weasel. A male stoat is called a dog , hob , or jack , while a female is called a jill . The collectiv

The Story of Ermine

As a girl name

Ermine first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1883, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1917, when 22 Ermines were born — ranking #1,652 that year. As of 2026, Ermine ranks #5,031 for girls with 7 births, with steady use. In total, more than 522 Ermines have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Ermine first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1906, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1917, when 7 Ermines were born — ranking #3,217 that year. As of 2026, Ermine ranks #3,995 for boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 67 Ermines have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1900s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Ermine

Phonetically similar names — useful when Ermine is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Ermine

What does the name Ermine mean?
The stoat, also known as the Eurasian ermine or ermine, is a species of mustelid native to Eurasia and the northern regions of North America. Because of its wide circumpolar distribution, it is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The name ermine is used especially in its pure white winter coat of the stoat or its fur.
How popular is Ermine in 2026?
In 2026, Ermine ranks #5,031 among girls' names in the U.S., with 7 babies given the name that year.
When was Ermine most popular?
Ermine reached its peak popularity in 1917, ranking #1,652 that year with 22 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Ermine most popular?
Ermine has historically been most popular in Texas. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Ermine.
Is Ermine a unisex name?
Yes — Ermine is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 89% of Ermines assigned female and 11% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Ermine?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Ermine include Artelia, Girlie, Zamora. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👧 Similar Girl Names

👧
Artelia
Peak #1652
👧
Girlie
Peak #1652
👧
Zamora
Peak #1652
👧
Genie
Peak #1653

👦 Similar Boy Names

👦
Amzie
Peak #3217
👦
Printes
Peak #3217
👦
Vanburen
Peak #3217
👦
Caspar
Peak #3217

About the name Ermine

Ermine is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1883 and has accumulated 522 births in the dataset. Ermine's peak popularity came in 1917 when it ranked #1,652. Use the chart and map above to compare Ermine's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.