Earnest
Meaningserious, earnest · English form of Ernest
- US rank
- #4,139
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #104 in 1900
25 babies were named Earnest in the US in 2025. It has dropped 405 places in five years.
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US births per million boys, 1880–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Earnest you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 68,493 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Earnest, 25 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Earnest would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryEarnest has been in use since at least 1880, the first year US birth records were kept. That's 145 years of Earnests, and counting.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1900, when it ranked #104. Today it's #4,139, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowEarnest was 2.4× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 28,902 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 68,493.
- TrendEarnest has slipped 405 places over the last five years and now sits at #4,139. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- MeaningEarnest is an English form of Ernest, which means “serious, earnest”. Our records link it to English and German roots.
About the name Earnest
Earnest is a boy name of English and German origin meaning “serious, earnest”. It has 7 letters and 2 syllables, starting with E and ending in “-est”. US birth records list Earnest for boys from 1880 to 2025, in 146 of those 146 years. Its best year was 1900, when it ranked #104 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #4,139, with 25 babies.
Origin:English namesGerman names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 950 | 1,053 boys |
| 1890s | 1,218 | 821 boys |
| 1900s | 1,391 | 719 boys |
| 1910s | 1,068 | 936 boys |
| 1920s | 986 | 1,014 boys |
| 1930s | 826 | 1,210 boys |
| 1940s | 594 | 1,683 boys |
| 1950s | 365 | 2,737 boys |
| 1960s | 233 | 4,283 boys |
| 1970s | 179 | 5,585 boys |
| 1980s | 109 | 9,205 boys |
| 1990s | 54 | 18,580 boys |
| 2000s | 28 | 35,651 boys |
| 2010s | 19 | 51,706 boys |
| 2020s | 13 | 74,627 boys |
More English boy names
- Boy name: Oliver · olive tree
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: James · supplanter
- Boy name: William · resolute protector
- Boy name: Benjamin · son of the right hand
- Boy name: Jack · God is gracious
- Unisex name: Hudson · son of Hudde
- Unisex name: Julian · of the Julius family
Questions about the name Earnest
What does the name Earnest mean?
Earnest means “serious, earnest” in English, as a form of Ernest.
What is the origin of the name Earnest?
Earnest has English, German roots in our records. Other English names include Oliver, Henry, James.
Is Earnest a boy or girl name?
Earnest is a boy name.
How popular is the name Earnest?
Earnest ranked #4,139 for US boys in 2025, given to 25 babies. Its best year was 1900 (#104).