Earnest: name meaning, origin & popularity
- Meaning
- “serious, sincere”
- Origin
- English
- Say it
- UR-nist · 2 syllables
- Used for
- Boys
Variant spelling of Ernest, from the Germanic element ernust meaning 'seriousness' or 'vigor.' The Earnest spelling is influenced by the English word earnest.
How popular is Earnest?
Babies named Earnest in 202417
Peak year1919
Total US babies since 188059,092
Earnest is fading: recent use is about 61% of its level ten years before.
Names like Earnest
Variants, related forms and names with the same roots.
Earnest questions
What does the name Earnest mean?
Earnest means "serious, sincere". It comes from English. Variant spelling of Ernest, from the Germanic element ernust meaning 'seriousness' or 'vigor.' The Earnest spelling is influenced by the English word earnest.
Is Earnest a boy or girl name?
Earnest is mainly a boy's name in US records (99% of uses since 1880).
How popular is Earnest?
17 US babies were named Earnest in 2024. Its peak year was 1919.
How do you pronounce Earnest?
Earnest is usually pronounced UR-nist.
Birth counts: US Social Security Administration national data, 1880–2024 (names given to 5+ babies of a sex in a year). How we write meanings.