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Home › Baby Names Directory › Erna

Erna

♀ Girl

Pronounced UR-nuh /ˈɜːr.nə/High

Meaning: A short feminine form of Ernest/Ernestine (Germanic ernst, 'serious, resolute'); it also matches an Old Norse name element meaning 'brisk, vigorous.' Common among German- and Scandinavian-American families.Medium

In 30 seconds: Erna is a short feminine of Ernest, 'serious,' also Old Norse for 'brisk' (said 'UR-nuh').
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Origin MediumGermanic, Old Norse
MeaningA short feminine form of Ernest/Ernestine (Germanic ernst, 'serious, resolute'); it also matches an Old Norse name element meaning 'brisk, vigorous.' Common among German- and Scandinavian-American families.
U.S. rank (2021)#14012 ↗ Rising
2021 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1916
Total births (all-time)≈ 9,060

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 191618802021

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Erna is a short feminine form of Ernest/Ernestine, from the Germanic ernst, 'serious, resolute'; it also matches an Old Norse element, 'brisk, vigorous.' Common among German- and Scandinavian-American families, it crested around 1916 and then faded, now a vintage name.

Given to several hundred girls a year at its height, Erna now reads as an early-century name.

Did you know? Erna peaked around 1916 and had faded by mid-century, a German- and Scandinavian-American name of the era.
Overall data confidence 66%
References — Erna — Feminine of Ernest; also Old Norse 'brisk'

Variations

ErnieErnestineErne

Nicknames

Ernie

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Erna…

Olga— a like early-century immigrant name
Alma— a like early-century -a name
Thora— a like Old Norse -a name
Jahna— shares Erna's Germanic roots
Lina— another Germanic name

Explore names like Erna

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Erna mean?

Erna is a short feminine of Ernest, 'serious, resolute'; it also matches an Old Norse element meaning 'brisk, vigorous.'

How do you pronounce Erna?

It's said UR-nuh /ˈɜːr.nə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Erna a boy or girl name?

Erna is used as a girl's name.

Is Erna making a comeback?

Not notably — it's an early-twentieth-century favorite that has been rare for generations, a vintage name.

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