Ernestine
Ernestine was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1926, when it ranked 193rd; the most babies were born in 1928 (1,057). More babies were named Ernestine in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning feminine of Ernest · French, German, Germanic
Say it UR-nes-teen /ˈɝnəˌstin/
- Rank in 2025
- Not rankedgirls
- Babies in 2025
- 0girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19281,057 babies
- Total since 1880
- 44,191babies recorded
What does the name Ernestine mean?
Ernestine is the French and German feminine of Ernest, with the ending -ine. Ernest comes from the Old High German ernust, glossed as "serious, earnest" (DMNES) or "vigor, strife" (Wiktionary). The name was used in German princely families, and in the US it was most common in the 1920s.
ernust (Old High German, “seriousness; vigor”)
How sure is this? Probable. The source word is glossed differently in DMNES and Wiktionary.
Related names: Ernest, Ernestina, Tina, Erna.
See also: Germanic names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Ernestine', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Ernest', DMNES (Durham University)
- Wikipedia, 'Ernestine', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Nicknames for Ernestine
The usual nicknames for Ernestine are Tina and Teeny. Some parents skip the long form: for every 100 girls named Ernestine in the last five years, 6167 were named Tina, against 5106 twenty years earlier.
| Nickname | Kind | Rank 2025 | Girls, 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tina · also for Valentina, Christina, Christine | Traditional | #2,815 | 370 |
| Teeny | Traditional | — | — |
Nicknames reviewed by our editors; counts are girls given the nickname as their legal first name. Nobody records how many Ernestines go by each one.
Ernestine popularity since 1880
A few boys are given the name too: 159 since 1922.
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — |
| 2020 | #13,969 | 6 |
| 2010 | — | — |
| 2000 | #12,201 | 7 |
| 1990 | #2,972 | 38 |
| 1980 | #1,693 | 67 |
| 1970 | #787 | 178 |
| 1960 | #488 | 401 |
| 1950 | #291 | 721 |
| 1940 | #219 | 767 |
| 1930 | #199 | 959 |
| 1920 | #221 | 863 |
| 1910 | #286 | 184 |
| 1900 | #347 | 93 |
| 1890 | #305 | 68 |
| 1880 | #409 | 17 |
How popular is Ernestine, counting every spelling?
Ernestine has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How old are people named Ernestine?
About 15,200 people born in the US named Ernestine are alive today, with a median age of 74; half are between 65 and 82. That makes Ernestine a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Ernestine by state
How common Ernestine was among girls born in each state in 1926–1930, around its peak. It is notably more common than nationally in Florida (3.4×), New Mexico (3.0×), Arizona (3.0×), Mississippi (2.7×), Arkansas (2.6×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Iowa, Wisconsin, Rhode Island.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Ernestine: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Ernestine, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Ernestine
What does Ernestine mean?
Ernestine means “feminine of Ernest” (French, German, Germanic origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Ernestine?
Ernestine was not among the names given to 5 or more girls in 2025. Its best year was 1926, when it ranked 193rd; the most babies were born in 1928 (1,057). More babies were named Ernestine in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Ernestine a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Ernestine in the US.
Where was Ernestine most popular?
In 1926–1930, Ernestine was most common in Florida (2.97 per 1,000 girls), followed by New Mexico and Arizona.