Earnest

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Earnest

Gender: Masculine
Language: English
Etymology:
Earnest is an English form of an Old Germanic name, Ernust, from the word “eornost “ which meant “serious” or “battle to the death.”

History:
As Ernst, the name was popular among the German princes of the 17th century. It was introduced to England with King George I and the Hanoverians, although it did not catch on until the mid-19th century. The spelling Earnest was favored because the English word “earnest” was so appealing to Victorians.
Please see Ernest for more information.

Pronunciation: ERR-nest.

Diminutives: Ernie.

Famous Bearers:
Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Earnest A. Hooton (1887-1954)
American anthropologist.

Fictional Characters:
Ernest (1895)
A persona claimed by several characters in Oscar Wilde’s play The Importance of Being Earnest.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.031 % named Earnest

Popularity of Earnest:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 207th most popular.
1910-1920: 167th most popular.
1920-1930: 152nd most popular.
1930-1940: 185th most popular.
1940-1950: 214th most popular.
1950-1960: 285th most popular.
1960-1970: 397th most popular.
1970-1980: 471st most popular.
1980-1990: 616th most popular.
1990: 895th most popular.
1991: 988th most popular.
1992: 958th most popular.
1993: N/A