The story behind Ernest
Borrowed in the 18th century from Ernst, a medieval royal name in Germany, from Old High German ernust (“vigor, strife”), only remotely related to modern German ernst or English earnest.
Other language forms and explanations (2)
French entry
Borrowed from German Ernst.
Polish entry
Borrowed from German Ernst, from Middle High German ernest, from Old High German ernust, from Proto-Germanic *ernustuz.
Pronunciation
UK: /ˈɜː(ɹ)nɪst/
Regional pronunciation variants
- French: /ɛʁ.nɛst/
- Polish: /ˈɛr.nɛst/
Popularity
Ernest ranked #1040 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Ernest
Earnest
A male given name from the Germanic languages, of occasional usage, variant of Ernest.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends T
- same syllable count
- similar length
Albert
From Old English Æþelbeorht, from Proto-West Germanic *Aþalaberht, a compound of *aþalaz (“noble”) + *berhtaz (“bright, famous”), or from Old French Albert, from Latin…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends T
- same syllable count
- similar length
Albrecht
a male given name from German, equivalent to English Albert
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends T
- same syllable count
- similar length
Garrett
A medieval English and Irish form of the Germanic given names Gerard and Gerald. Of Old High German origin.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends T
- same syllable count
- similar length
Gilbert
From Old French Gislebert, from Proto-Germanic *Gīslaberhtaz, from *gīslaz (“pledge”) + *berhtaz (“bright, famous”). Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *Gīslaberhtaz.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends T
- same syllable count
- similar length
Harriet
Anglicized form of French Henriette, feminine form of Henri (“Henry”), popular in England in the 18th and 19th centuries.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends T
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Ernest
Abelard
From French Abélard, an extension of the Abel with an Germanic suffix -(h)ard. Possibly also regarded a variant of the German Eberhard "boar" + "hard", equivalent to English…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Adalbertas
Learned borrowing from Latin Adalbertus, from Proto-West Germanic *Aþalaberht, from Proto-Germanic *Aþalaberhtaz. Compare German Adalbert and Latvian Adalberts.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Adela
Latinate form of French Adèle, short form of Germanic compound names beginning with Proto-Germanic *aþalaz (“noble”). Compare Old English æþele, English athel. Borrowed from…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Ernest
Abelard
From French Abélard, an extension of the Abel with an Germanic suffix -(h)ard. Possibly also regarded a variant of the German Eberhard "boar" + "hard", equivalent to English…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends D
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Adel
Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *aþalaz. The female name is a rare variant of Adele. The surname is borrowed from German Adel. Variant of Adil, from Arabic عَادِل (ʕādil).
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Adél
From French Adèle.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length