Ernest
/ˈɜːr.nɪst/noun
A male given name, from a word meaning seriousness or earnestness.
Did you know?Ernest entered English through Old French and ultimately Germanic roots tied to “seriousness” and “vigor,” which is why it feels so morally weighty even now.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*ernustiz
“seriousness, earnestness; vigor”
Old High German
OHG
ernust
“seriousness, zeal, determination”
Old French
OF
Erneste
“a personal name”
Middle English
ME
Ernest
“a male given name”
Modern English
English
Ernest
“a male given name”