Ernst Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Ernst originates from the German language, meaning serious or resolute. Its historical forms trace back to Old High German and have evolved through Middle High German to its current form. The name is associated with traits of seriousness and reliability, and it does not have biblical relevance. It gained popularity in Germany during the Middle Ages and continues to be a respected name today.
The name Ernst is most popular in Wisconsin, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Ernst has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Ernst' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1024th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1349th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1751st out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2483rd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3765th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 9526th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 14787th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Ernst' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Ernst"
Pronunciation
/ɛrnst/
Origin
German
Etymology
The name Ernst is derived from the Old High German name 'Ernst', which means 'serious' or 'resolute'.
Meaning
serious, resolute
Language Evolution
Old High German: Ernust, Middle High German: Ernst, Modern German: Ernst
Historical Usage
The name Ernst gained popularity in Germany during the Middle Ages and has remained a common name in German-speaking countries.
Variants & Derivatives
Ernesto, Ernstine, Ernie
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Ernst is perceived as a traditional and strong name, often associated with seriousness and reliability.
Famous People
Ernst Mach, physicist and philosopher, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, painter, Ernst Toller, playwright and political activist
Explore More Ernst Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Ernst"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Ernst"
"Ernst" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1024th of 7545 | 725 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1349th of 6773 | 465 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1751st of 7552 | 382 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2483rd of 10718 | 245 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3765th of 16616 | 220 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 9526th of 24088 | 94 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 14787th of 23106 | 29 |
Regional Popularity of "Ernst" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
40.54% 574th/1416 |
72.30% 997th/1379 |
84.53% 2000th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
53.82% 832nd/1546 |
54.24% 844th/1556 |
- | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
63.27% 1409th/2227 |
51.28% 1246th/2430 |
- |
60.61% 1682nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
48.21% 1679th/3483 |
- |
60.78% 2458th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
43.31% 1938th/4475 |
43.99% 2285th/5194 |
- |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Ernst" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Ernst"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Ernst" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.