Ernest is a boy name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Ernest means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Ernest across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Ernest has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Ernest is a boy name of Germanic origin meaning “serious, resolute”. from a word meaning earnestness.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 304,354 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 2,349 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 66 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 144 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Ernest per year, United States (1880 to 2025). United States peaked in 1921 (5,723/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 2025 (185/yr) · Ireland peaked in 1968 (11/yr) · Scotland peaked in 2025 (7/yr).
Ernest has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 1921, when it ranked #82 nationally (given to 5,723 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 1920s.
Earnest · Ernesto · Ernst · Ernesta · Earnst · Ernist · Erenest · Erniest
Not sure if it's the one? The best way to know is to see if your partner loves it too. Swipe baby names with your partner and match on the ones you both ❤️, free, no account needed to start.
Find your name together →