Ernest
Ernest is a given name derived from the Germanic word ernst, meaning "serious", often shortened to Ernie.
- English
- French
- Catalan
- Polish
Meaning & Origin of Ernest
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Ernest is a given name derived from the Germanic word ernst, meaning "serious", often shortened to Ernie.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
- French
- Catalan
- Polish
- Slovak
- Slovene
The Story of Ernest
Ernest first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1880, with 615 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1921, when 5,697 Ernests were born — ranking #38 that year. As of 2026, Ernest ranks #1,079 for baby boys with 201 births, holding steady (-2%). In total, more than 303K Ernests have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Ernest
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Ernest. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Notable people named Ernest
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Archduke Ernest of Austria (1553–1595), son of Maximilian II, Holy Roman Emperor
- Ernest, Margrave of Austria (1027–1075)
- Ernest, Duke of Bavaria (1373–1438)
- Ernest, Duke of Opava (c. 1415–1464)
- Ernest, Margrave of Baden-Durlach (1482–1553)
- Ernest, Landgrave of Hesse-Rheinfels (1623–1693)
- Ernest Augustus, Elector of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1629–1698)
- Ernest, Count of Stolberg-Ilsenburg (1650–1710)
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Ernest
Phonetically similar names — useful when Ernest 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 Ernest
What does the name Ernest mean?
What is the origin of the name Ernest?
How popular is Ernest in 2026?
When was Ernest most popular?
In which U.S. states is Ernest most popular?
Is Ernest a unisex name?
What names go well with Ernest?
What are nicknames or variants of Ernest?
About the name Ernest
Ernest is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 303K births in the dataset. Ernest's peak popularity came in 1921 when it ranked #21. Use the chart and map above to compare Ernest's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1921 →
- Names of the 1920s →
- Names starting with "E" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
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.