Ernest
Boy name · #1038 in 2025 · Uniqueness 63/100
Ernest is currently the #1038 boy name in the United States — 213 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #955, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 8,451 boys born in 2025 was named Ernest.
The 145-year story
Ernest first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 615 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1921, when 5,697 boys were named Ernest — good for #38 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Ernest per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ernest against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ernest in class?
Ernest scores 63 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Ernest is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ernest is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Ernests were CA (30), TX (14), WA (11), MI (10), AZ (9). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Ernest
Statistically, parents drawn to Ernest tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Eugene, Edmund, Albert, Howard, and Harold.
EugeneEdmundAlbertHowardHaroldRalphVernonVirgil
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ernest | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 213 | #1038 |
| 2024 | 202 | #1076 |
| 2023 | 213 | #1024 |
| 2022 | 186 | #1131 |
| 2021 | 187 | #1108 |
| 2020 | 208 | #1009 |
| 2019 | 193 | #1057 |
| 2018 | 215 | #964 |
| 2017 | 219 | #951 |
| 2016 | 210 | #977 |
| 2015 | 216 | #955 |
| 2014 | 247 | #877 |
| 2013 | 217 | #934 |
| 2012 | 223 | #922 |
| 2011 | 253 | #846 |
| 2010 | 218 | #925 |
| 2009 | 251 | #850 |
| 2008 | 277 | #791 |
| 2007 | 289 | #759 |
| 2006 | 298 | #724 |
| 2005 | 336 | #648 |
| 2004 | 368 | #595 |
| 2003 | 363 | #594 |
| 2002 | 353 | #591 |
| 2001 | 357 | #576 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Ernest a popular boy name?
Ernest ranked #1038 among boys in 2025 with 213 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #955.
When was the name Ernest most popular?
Ernest peaked in 1921, when 5,697 American boys received the name (ranked #38 that year). Since 1921 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Ernest?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 8,451 newborn American boys was named Ernest. It scores 63/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.