Earnest first name popularity, history and meaning

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.

Meaning of Earnest

Derived from the Germanic name Ernest, it means "earnest" or "sincere".

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.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 24 0
2022 24 0
2021 21 0
2020 27 0
2019 27 0
2018 40 0
2017 32 0
2016 24 0
2015 33 0
2014 37 0
2013 31 0
2012 50 0
2011 53 0
2010 37 0
2009 44 0
2008 51 0
2007 50 0
2006 59 0
2005 49 0
2004 56 0
2003 50 0
2002 63 0
2001 69 0
2000 68 0
1999 77 0
1998 98 0
1997 88 0
1996 84 0
1995 92 0
1994 116 0
1993 92 0
1992 135 0
1991 126 0
1990 145 0
1989 169 0
1988 157 0
1987 170 0
1986 195 0
1985 178 0
1984 174 0
1983 210 0
1982 255 0
1981 237 0
1980 251 5
1979 245 5
1978 220 0
1977 265 0
1976 281 0
1975 285 6
1974 281 0

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One of the earliest historical references to the name Earnest can be found in the writings of the 12th-century historian William of Malmesbury, who mentioned an Earnest of Winchester, a prominent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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"Earnest first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/earnest-meaning-and-history/.

"Earnest first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/earnest-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Earnest first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/earnest-meaning-and-history/.

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