Ernie
How to say it: UR-nee · /ˈɜrni/
Diminutive of Ernest, 'serious, earnest' - widely used as independent name in 20th-century English.
Ernie was the 4,368th most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 18 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1940s, its births are down about 18% in ten years, and it is projected to slip to #5,200 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #4,368 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 18 |
| Share of births | 1 in 184,185 |
| Peak decade | 1940s |
| Change over 10 years | −18% |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #5,200 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Ernie peaked in the 1940s and is less common today.
What goes with it
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Ernie is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in Dutch, English, German.
England and Wales: #321.
Famous people named Ernie
- Ernie Hudson (born 1945)American actor and former U.S. Marine
- Ernie Els (born 1969)South African professional golfer
- Ernie Brandts (born 1956)Dutch association football player and manager
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Ernie of Bert and Ernie, Muppet duo on Sesame Street since 1969; dominant association
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