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Ernest

♂ Boy

Pronounced ER-nest /ˈɜːr.nɪst/High

Meaning: Serious; resolute; from Germanic Ernst (earnest, serious, vigorous battle), from Old High German ernest (seriousness, zeal)High

In 30 seconds: A Germanic name meaning 'serious' or 'earnest,' popularized in English through Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) — where the name's meaning becomes the entire joke of the plot.

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Origin HighGermanic

MeaningSerious; resolute; from Germanic Ernst (earnest, serious, vigorous battle), from Old High German ernest (seriousness, zeal)

U.S. rank (2025)#1040 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births213 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1921

Total births (all-time)≈ 302,495

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Ernest is an English form of Germanic Ernst, from Old High German ernest (seriousness, battle to the death, zeal). It entered English through medieval Germanic contacts and became fashionable in the Victorian era, aided by Oscar Wilde's famous comedy.

Ernest peaked in the U.S. in the early 20th century and has declined. It ranked #1083 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) is entirely constructed around a pun on the name Ernest/earnest — characters believe that being named Ernest is synonymous with being earnest (sincere), making the name both the plot MacGuffin and the entire comedic premise.

Overall data confidence 92%

Behind the Name — Ernest — Germanic etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

ErnstErnesto

Nicknames

ErnieErn

Famous Bearers

★Ernest Hemingway (1899–1961)
American novelist and journalist, Nobel Prize in Literature (1954). Author of The Sun Also Rises, A Farewell to Arms, and For Whom the Bell Tolls.

If you like Ernest…

Everett— two-syllable -ett Germanic name with the same serious, steady character

Eliot— two-syllable surname name with the same literary, understated quality

Elliot— two-syllable literary surname in the same quiet vintage register

Ethan— two-syllable Hebrew name with the same solid, earnest quality

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Ernest mean?

Ernest means 'serious' or 'earnest,' from Germanic ernst (seriousness, zeal).

How do you pronounce Ernest?

It's said ER-nest — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Ernest a boy or girl name?

Ernest is used as a boys' name.

How popular is Ernest?

Ernest ranked #1083 for U.S. boys in 2024.