Ernie
Ernie was the 5270th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 18 babies. Its best year was 1945, when it ranked 305th; the most babies were born in 1959 (450). Over the last ten years it has moved down 938 places. More babies were named Ernie in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #5,270 boys, down 1,219 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 18boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1959450 babies
- Total since 1880
- 17,234babies recorded
Ernie popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 714 since 1889.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5,270 | 18 |
| 2020 | #4,051 | 25 |
| 2010 | #3,844 | 27 |
| 2000 | #1,729 | 65 |
| 1990 | #1,062 | 100 |
| 1980 | #787 | 124 |
| 1970 | #556 | 212 |
| 1960 | #378 | 435 |
| 1950 | #383 | 305 |
| 1940 | #442 | 172 |
| 1930 | #594 | 104 |
| 1920 | #749 | 77 |
| 1910 | #685 | 19 |
| 1900 | #756 | 12 |
| 1890 | #687 | 9 |
| 1880 | #852 | 6 |
How popular is Ernie, counting every spelling?
Ernie has no other common spelling that sounds the same.
How many kids will share the name Ernie?
18 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Ernie (0.01 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Ernie born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 465 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Ernie.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Ernie?
About 10,100 people born in the US named Ernie are alive today, with a median age of 62; half are between 47 and 71. That makes Ernie 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.
Ernie by state
How common Ernie was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. In 49 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Ernie: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Ernie, they share its era and feel.
Ernie is also a nickname for Ernest.
Questions about the name Ernie
How popular is the name Ernie?
Ernie was the 5270th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 18 babies. Its best year was 1945, when it ranked 305th; the most babies were born in 1959 (450). Over the last ten years it has moved down 938 places. More babies were named Ernie in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Is Ernie a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Ernie in the US.
Where is Ernie most popular?
In 2021–2025, Ernie was most common in Texas (0.01 per 1,000 boys), followed by California and California.