Ernest
Ernest is a boy name of German origin, meaning Serious and resolute.
What Ernest means
Serious and resolute.
Ernest sits at 6 letters, and ends on a consonant, which gives it a firmer stop.
Where Ernest comes from
German names are typically Germanic compounds, built from two elements — often one describing strength or protection and one describing a domain such as battle, home, or people.
Ernest is recorded as German in origin. Browse other German names.
How popular is Ernest?
Ernest sits outside the top 100 boy names we currently track. For many parents that is the appeal: a name with genuine history behind it that has not been picked up by everyone at once.
The character of Ernest
We group Ernest under the long-established classics and strength — an unusual pairing, and often the reason a name feels the way it does. Each theme opens a full list of names sharing it.
Names like Ernest
These share Ernest's themes, origin, or both — closest first.
- Roland — Famous throughout the land.
- Caroline — Free woman; strong.
- Harriet — Ruler of the home.
- Henrietta — Ruler of the home.
- Edmund — Wealthy protector.
- Eduardo — Wealthy guardian.
- Edward — Wealthy guardian.
- Enzo — Ruler of the home; winner.
- Roman — Citizen of Rome; strong.
- Augustus — Great, venerable and majestic.
- Dante — Enduring and steadfast.
- Maximus — The greatest.