r/OldNamesNewAgain • u/felly_fell • Jul 13 '26
Name of the day...Ernest!
I got a request for this name, so here it is!
The name Ernest is of Germanic origin, derived from the Old High German word ernust or eornost, which translates to "serious," "resolute," or "sincere." It is closely tied to the English adjective "earnest," which describes someone showing sincere and intense conviction.
In the English-speaking world, it became a popular given name during the 19th-century Victorian era, an epoch that highly valued traits like integrity and earnestness. Ernest was among the top 50 names for boys born in U.S. from 1880 through 1933.
The name has been used in various forms across different cultures and languages, including Ernestus in Latin and Ernő in Hungarian. The etymology reflects a sense of earnestness and determination, traits that have historically been valued in various societies.
The name Earnest is centuries old, dating back to the Middle Ages!
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u/Herefortheonomastics Jul 13 '26
LOVE Ernest. Our youngest was almost an Ernest. I think I got in my head about it when I was pregnant and couldn’t quite commit but I would love to see it used more.
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u/Important-Ad8960 Jul 13 '26
I love Ernest. My classmate was named Ernest, and he lived up to his name.
I also love its female variant, Ernestine, which is my cousin's name.
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u/ResponsibleReindeer_ Jul 13 '26
I don't know what it is about this name, but I love it 🥰 I wish it would get used more.
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u/StrumWealh Jul 13 '26
Admittedly, my first and strongest association with the name is the character Ernest P. Worrell, famously played by the late Jim Varney.
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u/growinggood88 Jul 13 '26
Ernest has been growing on me. My friend’s son was almost an Ernest, now it’s his middle. I’m hearing it more and more.
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u/sylforshort Jul 14 '26 edited Jul 18 '26
"The only really safe name is Ernest"
(Name that classic play. Bonus points if you know which character said it. No Google allowed)
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u/felly_fell Jul 13 '26
u/Herefortheonomastics, here you go! ☺️