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How Many People Are Named Ernie?
Estimated people named Ernie living in the U.S. today
10,883
Gender distribution
99% male · 1% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 17,215
- Peak year: 1959 (455 births)
- Estimated living today: 10,883
Ernie by age group — who carries the name today?
Ernie popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Ernie
Ernie has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 17,215 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 10,883 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 31,407 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Ernies 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 Ernie in the US?
An estimated 10,883 people named Ernie are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Ernie rare — about 1 in 31,407 Americans.
Is Ernie a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Ernie is 99% male and 1% female, so it is predominantly a male name.
When was Ernie most popular?
Ernie peaked in 1959, when 455 babies were given the name. Its current trend is declining compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Ernie?
Ernie ranks #2,297 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 53 out of 100 (higher means rarer).