Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Ernest
BoyGermanic, English· “serious, resolute”
- Meaning
- serious, resolute
- Origin
- Germanic, English
- Pronunciation
- UR-nuhst
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,040
- US babies 2025
- 213
- Best rank
- #21 (1885)
- Peak year
- 1921
Meaning and origin of Ernest
Ernest is a Germanic and English name that means “serious, resolute”.
Ernest comes from the Germanic element ernust, meaning "serious" or "resolute." It arrived in England in the eighteenth century with the German-born Hanoverian court and became widely used in the nineteenth. Oscar Wilde famously played on its sound in The Importance of Being Earnest, first performed in 1895, where the name's link to earnestness drives the comedy. Novelist Ernest Hemingway later gave it a rugged image. Today Ernest feels like an old-fashioned gentleman's name ready for revival, with Ernie as a cheerful nickname and Ernesto as a Spanish alternative.
Famous parents who chose Ernest: Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank (2023). More celebrity baby names
Popularity over time
Ernest has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 139 different years. Its best national rank was #21 in 1885, and the most babies received it in 1921, when 5,697 were named Ernest. In 2025, 213 babies were named Ernest, and it ranked #1,040 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #37 in 1920, #81 in 1950, #180 in 1980, #514 in 2000, #926 in 2010, and #1,040 in 2025. Of the 302,499 US boys named Ernest since records began, 18% were born in the 1920s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 41,762 babies. Since 2010, 3,420 more have been named Ernest.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Leonard, Earl, Louis, Clarence, and Edwin.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Ernest ranked highest in Nebraska, Washington, and Utah.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Nebraska | #459 | 5 |
| Washington | #611 | 11 |
| Utah | #640 | 6 |
| Wisconsin | #645 | 7 |
| Arizona | #689 | 9 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Ernest is usually pronounced UR-nuhst, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with E and ends in “-st”.
Middle names for Ernest
A few middle names that flow with Ernest: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Ernest
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Lists that include Ernest
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Ernest mean?
Ernest is a Germanic and English name that means “serious, resolute”.
What is the origin of the name Ernest?
Ernest has Germanic and English roots. Ernest comes from the Germanic element ernust, meaning "serious" or "resolute." It arrived in England in the eighteenth century with the German-born Hanoverian court and became widely used in the nineteenth.
Is Ernest a popular name?
Not especially. Ernest ranked #1,040 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Ernest a boy or girl name?
Ernest is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Ernest?
Ernest is usually pronounced UR-nuhst. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings