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Ernest

Boy

Meaning of Ernest: German: 'serious'

Ernest is a boy's name most strongly associated with German naming. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, and it is a timeless pick that has stayed popular for over a century — 1045th most popular boys' name in the United States in 2025 and 296th in England & Wales.

US rank 2025

#1045

213 babies in 2025

England & Wales 2024

#296

152 babies in 2024

US babies since 1880

304,354

First recorded 1880 · peak 1921

Trend

stable

Style: classic

Popularity over time

1981: 1,313 babies1982: 1,254 babies1983: 1,202 babies1984: 1,159 babies1985: 1,081 babies1986: 1,017 babies1987: 954 babies1988: 1,011 babies1989: 965 babies1990: 920 babies19901991: 863 babies1992: 721 babies1993: 644 babies1994: 591 babies1995: 491 babies1996: 517 babies1997: 480 babies1998: 450 babies1999: 387 babies2000: 440 babies20002001: 357 babies2002: 353 babies2003: 363 babies2004: 368 babies2005: 336 babies2006: 298 babies2007: 289 babies2008: 277 babies2009: 251 babies2010: 218 babies20102011: 253 babies2012: 223 babies2013: 217 babies2014: 247 babies2015: 216 babies2016: 210 babies2017: 219 babies2018: 215 babies2019: 193 babies2020: 208 babies20202021: 187 babies2022: 186 babies2023: 213 babies2024: 202 babies2025: 213 babies
US babies named Ernest per year (Social Security Administration). Peak bar = 1,313.

Gender split

99% boys · 1% girls, based on US, UK and international usage.

Origins & cultures

More German boys' names

Other names starting with E