Earnest Boy
Origin(s)
PronunciationUR-nest / /ˈɜrnɪst/English; German
Meaning
English: serious; German: earnest, resolute
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Earnest has roots in Old English and Germanic languages, where it signifies seriousness and sincerity. It gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in English-speaking countries. The name is often associated with the virtue of honesty and integrity. Its use has been influenced by literary works, notably Oscar Wilde's play 'The Importance of Being Earnest'.
Trend Summary
The name Earnest has seen a decline in popularity in the United States since the early 20th century.
Similar Names
Variants
- Ernest
- Ernie
International Variants
- Ernesto (Spanish)
- Ernö (Hungarian)
- Ernestas (Lithuanian)
Famous people named Earnest
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Fictional characters named Earnest
Earnest is a character in the animated series 'The Amazing World of Gumball', often portrayed as a well-meaning but clumsy figure.
Sibling Suggestions
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Earnest was first seen in the United States in 1880. Earnest has ranked as high as #321 nationally, which occurred in 1926, and has been most popular in Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, and North Carolina. In the past 5 years the name Earnest has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
Top States for Earnest (2019)
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| FL | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880 | 88 |
| 1881 | 92 |
| 1882 | 104 |
| 1883 | 87 |
| 1884 | 109 |
| 1885 | 120 |
| 1886 | 105 |
| 1887 | 99 |
| 1888 | 138 |
| 1889 | 101 |
| 1890 | 122 |
| 1891 | 114 |
| 1892 | 149 |
| 1893 | 132 |
| 1894 | 131 |
| 1895 | 143 |
| 1896 | 144 |
| 1897 | 148 |
| 1898 | 161 |
| 1899 | 146 |
| 1900 | 223 |
| 1901 | 131 |
| 1902 | 159 |
| 1903 | 140 |
| 1904 | 189 |
| 1905 | 172 |
| 1906 | 183 |
| 1907 | 225 |
| 1908 | 230 |
| 1909 | 255 |
| 1910 | 255 |
| 1911 | 283 |
| 1912 | 486 |
| 1913 | 521 |
| 1914 | 638 |
| 1915 | 824 |
| 1916 | 780 |
| 1917 | 924 |
| 1918 | 1,081 |
| 1919 | 1,064 |
| 1920 | 1,092 |
| 1921 | 1,128 |
| 1922 | 1,089 |
| 1923 | 1,063 |
| 1924 | 1,144 |
| 1925 | 1,103 |
| 1926 | 1,149 |
| 1927 | 1,062 |
| 1928 | 1,043 |
| 1929 | 996 |
| 1930 | 991 |
| 1931 | 916 |
| 1932 | 872 |
| 1933 | 858 |
| 1934 | 921 |
| 1935 | 881 |
| 1936 | 815 |
| 1937 | 833 |
| 1938 | 827 |
| 1939 | 808 |
| 1940 | 797 |
| 1941 | 812 |
| 1942 | 835 |
| 1943 | 940 |
| 1944 | 896 |
| 1945 | 807 |
| 1946 | 850 |
| 1947 | 982 |
| 1948 | 900 |
| 1949 | 887 |
| 1950 | 888 |
| 1951 | 803 |
| 1952 | 815 |
| 1953 | 787 |
| 1954 | 770 |
| 1955 | 697 |
| 1956 | 727 |
| 1957 | 632 |
| 1958 | 633 |
| 1959 | 559 |
| 1960 | 591 |
| 1961 | 526 |
| 1962 | 499 |
| 1963 | 468 |
| 1964 | 416 |
| 1965 | 443 |
| 1966 | 423 |
| 1967 | 379 |
| 1968 | 390 |
| 1969 | 380 |
| 1970 | 383 |
| 1971 | 363 |
| 1972 | 333 |
| 1973 | 306 |
| 1974 | 281 |
| 1975 | 285 |
| 1976 | 281 |
| 1977 | 266 |
| 1978 | 219 |
| 1979 | 245 |
| 1980 | 251 |
| 1981 | 236 |
| 1982 | 255 |
| 1983 | 210 |
| 1984 | 174 |
| 1985 | 178 |
| 1986 | 195 |
| 1987 | 170 |
| 1988 | 157 |
| 1989 | 169 |
| 1990 | 145 |
| 1991 | 126 |
| 1992 | 135 |
| 1993 | 92 |
| 1994 | 116 |
| 1995 | 92 |
| 1996 | 84 |
| 1997 | 88 |
| 1998 | 98 |
| 1999 | 77 |
| 2000 | 68 |
| 2001 | 69 |
| 2002 | 63 |
| 2003 | 50 |
| 2004 | 56 |
| 2005 | 49 |
| 2006 | 59 |
| 2007 | 50 |
| 2008 | 51 |
| 2009 | 44 |
| 2010 | 37 |
| 2011 | 53 |
| 2012 | 50 |
| 2013 | 31 |
| 2014 | 37 |
| 2015 | 33 |
| 2016 | 24 |
| 2017 | 32 |
| 2018 | 40 |
| 2019 | 27 |
| 2020 | 28 |
| 2021 | 21 |
| 2022 | 24 |
| 2023 | 24 |
| 2024 | 17 |