Find out how popular the first name Earnest has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Earnest by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Earnest is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Earnest being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 24 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Earnest.

The history of the first name Earnest

The name Earnest is an English given name derived from the Germanic word "ernst", which means "serious" or "resolute". It is believed to have originated in the early medieval period, around the 5th or 6th century AD, and was initially used as a descriptive name for someone with a serious or earnest demeanor.

In the Anglo-Saxon period, the name Earnest was spelled in various ways, such as "Earnest", "Ernest", and "Ernist". The earliest recorded use of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, where it appears as "Ernestus".

One of the earliest historical references to the name Earnest can be found in the writings of the 12th-century historian William of Malmesbury, who mentioned an Earnest of Winchester, a prominent figure in the English church during the reign of King Henry I (1100-1135).

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Earnest. One of the most famous was Earnest Hemingway (1899-1961), the American novelist, short story writer, and journalist who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. Other notable individuals with the name Earnest include Earnest Shackleton (1874-1922), the Irish Antarctic explorer; Earnest Rutherford (1871-1937), the New Zealand physicist who pioneered the study of radioactivity; Earnest Bevin (1881-1951), the British politician and trade union leader who served as Foreign Secretary during World War II; and Earnest Ansermet (1883-1969), the Swiss conductor and composer.

The name Earnest has been used across various cultures and regions, although it is most commonly associated with English-speaking countries. Its enduring popularity can be attributed to its strong and positive connotations, reflecting qualities such as sincerity, determination, and commitment.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Earnest was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Earnest, please contact us.

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