Ernie
Meaning: “vigor, strife”
About the name Ernie
Ernie is a boy name with Old High German roots, meaning “vigor, strife”. It is related to Ernest, which is where the meaning comes from.
It has a unique feel. In 2025, Ernie ranked #5270 for boys in the US, with 18 babies given the name. Its peak year since 1940 was 1959. Since 2000, 100% of US babies named Ernie were boys.
Etymology
A diminutive of Ernest, which comes from Old High German, meaning “vigor, strife”.
Name meaning adapted from Wiktionary (“Ernie”, “Ernest”) by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- US rank 2025
- #5270
- In 2015
- #4332
- Babies in 2025
- 18
Popularity of Ernie, 1940–2025
Latest SSA data: 2025.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration national baby names (public domain; names given to at least 5 babies of one sex per year).
Names similar to Ernie
Name meanings marked or linked “Wiktionary” are adapted from Wiktionary by Wiktionary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; each name page links its source entry.