Ernest
Boy name · 66 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Ernest: 66 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 7 births in 2025.
The name Ernest has its roots in Old German, derived from *eornost*, meaning "serious" or "resolute." It was adopted into English via the Normans, and its meaning of earnestness gave it a sturdy, Victorian appeal. The most famous bearer is Nobel Prize-winning author **Ernest Hemingway**, whose terse, masculine prose defined a generation. In a lighter vein, the name is forever linked to the wit of Oscar Wilde’s play *The Importance of Being Earnest*, where its homophone drives the plot. Accounts of a Saint Ernest, an abbot martyred in the 12th century, gave the name some early religious currency. Variants include the German **Ernst**, also the name of a Royal House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Though less common today, Ernest retains a charmingly old-fashioned dignity.
Boy 16 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 20257 babies
- Latest (2025)
- #4417 babies
- Total births
- 66since 1976
- 5-year trend
- ▲ 9%vs prior 5y