Ernest
Pronounced ER1 N AH0 S T (ARPABET)
- 2 syllables
- Peaked 1921
- 145 years in use
- 1 spelling
How popular is Ernest?
Ernest is a boys' name, and has been in the record since the data starts in 1880. It has been given to 363,229 children — the 101st most common boys' name on record.
It has been slipping, down 25% on the previous decade. Its best single year was 1921, when 6,825 children were given it.
Earnest is counted with it here, since the two are pronounced identically.
Spelling variants
These spellings sound identical to Ernest and are counted together with it, which is why the totals here are higher than a single-spelling count.
- Earnest
Nicknames
Common short forms: Ernie.
Characteristics
- 2 syllables
Phonetic detail
- Pronunciations:
- ER1 N AH0 S T · ER1 N IH0 S T
- Stress pattern:
- 10 · 10
- Syllables:
- 2
Stress digits mark unstressed (0), primary (1) and secondary (2) syllables.
Names like Ernest
Same first letter and syllable count, peaking around the same time.
Sibling names for Ernest
Names from the same era with a matching rhythm but a different initial.
Frequently asked questions
- How popular is the name Ernest?
- Ernest ranks 101st among boys' names in US records, with 363,229 births since 1880. Over the past decade it accounts for 2,316.
- Is Ernest a unisex name?
- No. Ernest is recorded almost entirely as a boys' name; births to the other gender are too few to register as a share.
- When was Ernest most popular?
- 1921, when 6,825 children were given the name. It has been in use for 145 years and is still recorded as of 2024.
- What are common nicknames for Ernest?
- Ernie. These are recorded as separate names in their own right, so each has its own page and its own popularity curve.
- How else is Ernest spelled?
- Earnest. All of these sound the same and are counted together in the totals on this page.