Masculine dossier · first seen 1880
Ernest
Endangered
Down 96.3% from peak
Peak era
1921
Peak births
5,697
Current vitality
Fragile
Peak generation
Greatest Generation
Quick answers about Ernest
How many people are named Ernest?
An estimated 100,799 living Americans are named Ernest.
How rare is Ernest?
Ernest is uncommon among babies today, with 213 boys receiving the name in 2025, down 96.3% from its 1921 peak.
How old is the typical Ernest?
The median age of a living American named Ernest is approximately 62 years, with most bearers falling between 48 and 73 years old.
Is Ernest still popular?
No. Ernest is endangered as a baby name, down 96.3% from its 1921 peak with 213 births in 2025.
Where is Ernest most common?
Ernest has its strongest geographic signal in New Mexico, where it appears 3.2× more often than the national baseline.
1880Peak 19212025
Peak year
1921
Decline from peak
96.3%
2025
213
All-time
302,499