Earnest Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Earnest originates from the Old English word 'eornost', meaning 'seriousness' or 'sincerity'. It has evolved through historical forms such as Eornost and Ernest. The name embodies traits of honesty and moral integrity, with no direct biblical relevance. It became popular in the 19th century and is associated with a sense of vintage charm today. Notable figures with this name include authors and explorers.
The name Earnest is most popular in Mississippi, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Earnest has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Earnest' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 144th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 174th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 273rd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 453rd out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 781st out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2053rd out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 3812th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2944th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2324th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 3447th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 8023rd out of 19264 names. Discover how the name 'Earnest' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Earnest"
Pronunciation
/ˈɜrnɪst/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Earnest is derived from the Old English word 'eornost', meaning 'seriousness' or 'sincerity'. It reflects the qualities of honesty and seriousness.
Meaning
seriousness, sincerity
Language Evolution
Eornost (Old English), Ernest (Middle English), Earnest (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Earnest gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in English-speaking countries, as a virtue name reflecting moral integrity.
Variants & Derivatives
Ernest, Ernesto, Earnie
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Earnest is less common as a given name but is often associated with qualities of integrity and seriousness, sometimes evoking a vintage charm.
Famous People
Ernest Hemingway, Ernest Shackleton, Earnest Byner
Explore More Earnest Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Earnest"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Earnest"
"Earnest" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 144th of 7545 | 17,370 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 174th of 6773 | 15,848 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 273rd of 7552 | 13,430 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 453rd of 10718 | 5,228 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 781st of 16616 | 2,534 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 2053rd of 24088 | 962 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 3812th of 23106 | 338 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 2944th of 9107 | 169 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 2324th of 9204 | 249 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 3447th of 12526 | 228 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 8023rd of 19264 | 75 |
Regional Popularity of "Earnest" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
18.01% 255th/1416 |
30.24% 417th/1379 |
3.34% 79th/2366 |
40.02% 457th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
20.18% 312th/1546 |
32.33% 503rd/1556 |
4.04% 95th/2353 |
30.64% 474th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
18.23% 406th/2227 |
26.17% 636th/2430 |
6.03% 172nd/2853 |
19.75% 548th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
16.28% 478th/2937 |
23.37% 814th/3483 |
8.81% 310th/3518 |
18.42% 745th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
21.19% 781st/3685 |
43.75% 1958th/4475 |
11.34% 589th/5194 |
20.55% 1298th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
45.77% 2097th/4582 |
- |
20.66% 1511th/7313 |
42.22% 3151st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
53.28% 3635th/6822 |
- |
Regional Popularity of "Earnest" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
78.32% 1853rd/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - |
65.07% 1531st/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - |
79.14% 2258th/2853 |
- |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - |
100.00% 3518th/3518 |
- |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Earnest"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Earnest" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.