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How Many People Are Named Ernest?
Estimated people named Ernest living in the U.S. today
120,312
Gender distribution
99% male · 1% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 304,137
- Peak year: 1921 (5,723 births)
- Estimated living today: 120,312
Ernest by age group — who carries the name today?
Ernest popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Ernest
Ernest has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 304,137 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 120,312 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 2,841 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Ernests you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Ernest in the US?
An estimated 120,312 people named Ernest are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Ernest uncommon — about 1 in 2,841 Americans.
Is Ernest a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Ernest is 99% male and 1% female, so it is predominantly a male name.
When was Ernest most popular?
Ernest peaked in 1921, when 5,723 babies were given the name. Its current trend is declining compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Ernest?
Ernest ranks #457 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 40 out of 100 (higher means rarer).