Serious, resolute, or earnest
Derived from the Germanic word 'ernust', meaning seriousness or vigor. It was a common name among German royalty and nobility, signifying a person of determined and sincere character. While popular in the 19th century, it has become a rare choice in the modern United States.
Fewer than 5 boys were named Ernst in 2025.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
Nobel Prize-winning American novelist (often spelled Ernest)
Austrian physicist and philosopher
German-born film director
Supervillain and head of SPECTRE · James Bond series
German expressionist painter
Leading evolutionary biologist
