Earnest

Last seen for girls in 1980 at #10,392 · #4,139 for boys in 2025, 25 births
Given to boys 98.8% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1900 · 223 births
Debut · boys
88 births
In top 100 · boys
never
of 146 years
Total births · boys
58,389
since 1880

Earnest over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Earnest has never cracked the top 100 here.

#1#10#100#1,000#10,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201926peak #104, 1900boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#4,13925
2024#5,44317
2023#4,34324
2022#4,30324
2021#4,62821
2020#3,73428
2019#3,89927
2018#2,94340
2017#3,44032
2016#4,19924
2015#3,36533
2014#3,03837
2013#3,40531
2012#2,48850
2011#2,37653
2010#3,07237
2009#2,75344
2008#2,46751
2007#2,50450
2006#2,17659
2005#2,36549
2004#2,10256
2003#2,18050
2002#1,81763
2001#1,67769
2000#1,68168
1999#1,47777
1998#1,23798
1997#1,29488
1996#1,30384
1995#1,20692
1994#1,030116
1993#1,16392
1992#911135
1991#945126
1990#849145
1989#758169
1988#756157
1987#698170
1986#642195
1985#659178
1984#655174
1983#582210
1982#534255
1981#553236
1980#10,3925#539251
1979#10,2105#545245
1978#568218
1977#501266
1976#469281
1975#7,9846#473285
1974#474281
1973#446306
1972#8,2925#434334
1971#6,0068#426362
1970#5,4139#417383
1969#7,4715#409380
1968#393390
1967#4,30010#386379
1966#4,19810#368423
1965#3,73312#365443
1964#5,4747#391417
1963#6,5925#363468
1962#353499
1961#4,00911#345524
1960#2,98917#320592
1959#3,25414#326559
1958#3,54312#298634
1957#3,48912#303631
1956#3,49312#272727
1955#3,77810#269696
1954#2,69517#250771
1953#2,59517#239787
1952#3,04013#233814
1951#3,10612#239803
1950#2,34118#213888
1949#2,34018#213888
1948#3,35010#211899
1947#3,06112#203982
1946#3,03411#202850
1945#1,87420#188807
1944#3,1399#182896
1943#2,07918#177940
1942#2,81711#192835
1941#1,88219#185812
1940#2,42412#184797
1939#1,88118#176808
1938#1,94517#175827
1937#2,73510#174833
1936#2,15314#169815
1935#2,00616#163881
1934#2,28913#161921
1933#3,1098#166858
1932#2,36513#169872
1931#2,42712#162916
1930#2,69011#153991
1929#2,30114#155996
1928#2,38114#1531,043
1927#2,33915#1481,062
1926#3,04610#1471,149
1925#2,37815#1481,103
1924#2,51414#1451,144
1923#2,02119#1461,063
1922#1,95720#1431,089
1921#2,50914#1381,128
1920#3,09710#1401,092
1919#2,51513#1391,064
1918#3,2449#1421,081
1917#3,7137#143924
1916#3,0319#155780
1915#143824
1914#2,8767#147638
1913#2,5407#144521
1912#132486
1911#125283
1910#128255
1909#107255
1908#111230
1907#107225
1906#117183
1905#124172
1904#110189
1903#133140
1902#121159
1901#127131
1900#104223
1899#114146
1898#1,7005#114161
1897#116148
1896#124144
1895#117143
1894#119131
1893#121132
1892#116149
1891#121114
1890#120122
1889#144101
1888#118138
1887#12999
1886#131105
1885#113120
1884#132109
1883#14887
1882#134104
1881#13292
1880#15488
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Earnest was already there! It came in at #154, and was given to 88 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 2021–2025, when fewer than 26 boys a year got the name.

Where Earnest is popular in 1926

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedWAIdaho: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedMNIllinois: #276 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 3,408 boysILWisconsin: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedWIMichigan: #372 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 5,848 boysMINew York: #424 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 9,629 boysNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedSDIowa: #174 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 1,247 boysIAIndiana: #279 for boys · 7 births · 1 in 3,693 boysINOhio: #247 for boys · 17 births · 1 in 3,097 boysOHPennsylvania: #265 for boys · 22 births · 1 in 3,966 boysPANew Jersey: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedCTCalifornia: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedCAUtah: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedUTColorado: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedNEMissouri: #149 for boys · 31 births · 1 in 951 boysMOKentucky: #77 for boys · 63 births · 1 in 406 boysKYWest Virginia: #66 for boys · 48 births · 1 in 366 boysWVVirginia: #66 for boys · 69 births · 1 in 321 boysVAMaryland: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedNMKansas: #168 for boys · 14 births · 1 in 1,082 boysKSArkansas: #63 for boys · 67 births · 1 in 273 boysARTennessee: #77 for boys · 60 births · 1 in 399 boysTNNorth Carolina: #72 for boys · 87 births · 1 in 391 boysNCSouth Carolina: #75 for boys · 44 births · 1 in 417 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedDCOklahoma: #107 for boys · 43 births · 1 in 527 boysOKLouisiana: #92 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 432 boysLAMississippi: #41 for boys · 91 births · 1 in 223 boysMSAlabama: #53 for boys · 108 births · 1 in 255 boysALGeorgia: #54 for boys · 98 births · 1 in 276 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Earnest, so not publishedHITexas: #115 for boys · 105 births · 1 in 523 boysTXFlorida: #76 for boys · 41 births · 1 in 372 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Mississippi#41 · 1 in 223
  2. Alabama#53 · 1 in 255
  3. Georgia#54 · 1 in 276
  4. Arkansas#63 · 1 in 273
  5. Virginia#66 · 1 in 321

Best ever in a state: #40 in Georgia, 1910.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Mississippi#41911 in 223
Alabama#531081 in 255
Georgia#54981 in 276
Arkansas#63671 in 273
Virginia#66691 in 321
West Virginia#66481 in 366
North Carolina#72871 in 391
South Carolina#75441 in 417
Florida#76411 in 372
Kentucky#77631 in 406
Tennessee#77601 in 399
Louisiana#92461 in 432
Oklahoma#107431 in 527
Texas#1151051 in 523
Missouri#149311 in 951
Kansas#168141 in 1,082
Iowa#174161 in 1,247
Ohio#247171 in 3,097
Pennsylvania#265221 in 3,966
Illinois#276171 in 3,408
Indiana#27971 in 3,693
Michigan#37271 in 5,848
New York#424101 in 9,629
Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Hawaii
Idaho
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
North Dakota
Oregon
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Utah
Vermont
Washington
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Earnest
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 1,304 spots since 2024 (#5,443#4,139)
  • 405 spots since 2020 (#3,734#4,139)
  • 774 spots since 2015 (#3,365#4,139)
  • Biggest jump: 34 spots in 1992 (#945#911)
  • Biggest drop: 252 spots in 1993 (#911#1,163)
Rise & fade · boys
20 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1900 at #104 (223 births)
  • Births halved by 1993, 93 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 1,000 for 113 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 113 yrs · run 1880–1992
Share of babies · boys
1 in 643
  • Highest: 1 in 643 boys born in 1909 were named Earnest (0.16%)
  • Latest: 1 in 68,323 boys born in 2025 (0.00%)
  • Its best rank, #104 in 1900, was only 1 in 675 (0.15%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · boys
The 1920s
  • 18.6% of all boys named Earnest (10,869) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s1,043#113 (1885)#134
1890s1,390#114 (1898)#118
1900s1,907#104 (1900)#116
1910s6,856#125 (1911)#140
1920s10,869#138 (1921)#146
1930s8,722#153 (1930)#167
1940s8,706#177 (1943)#194
1950s7,310#213 (1950)#264
1960s4,515#320 (1960)#369
1970s2,961#417 (1970)#475
1980s1,995#534 (1982)#638
1990s1,053#849 (1990)#1,142
2000s559#1,677 (2001)#2,172
2010s364#2,376 (2011)#3,223
2020s139#3,734 (2020)#4,432

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Earnest in 1926

girls
#3,046
10 births · 1 in 118,540 girls
boys
#147
1,149 births · 1 in 966 boys

Top girls' names in 1926

  1. #1Mary67,832
  2. #2Dorothy36,618
  3. #3Betty32,964
  4. #4Helen26,886
  5. #5Margaret23,072
  6. #6Ruth20,225
  7. #7Doris16,295
  8. #8Virginia16,161
  9. #9Mildred13,547
  10. #10Frances13,355
  11. #3,046Earnest10

Top boys' names in 1926

  1. #1Robert61,130
  2. #2John56,108
  3. #3James53,196
  4. #4William51,922
  5. #5Charles29,521
  6. #6George25,910
  7. #7Richard25,143
  8. #8Joseph23,756
  9. #9Donald20,912
  10. #10Edward19,375
  11. #147Earnest1,149
More about 1926

girls

1,185,401 girls got a published name in 1926; 1 in 118,540 of them was named Earnest, which outranked 45.8% of the 5,622 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 22.5% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Earnest
  1. #2,872Zenaida11
  2. #2,872Zoa11
  3. #2,872Zuma11
  4. #3,046Earnest10
  5. #3,046Adelaida10
  6. #3,046Adelma10
  7. #3,046Adena10
  8. #3,269Abelina9
  9. #3,269Adabelle9
  10. #3,269Adrianna9

Tied with 222 names at #3,046; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1925
Risers
  1. 1,047Janell#1,795#748
  2. 389Madalyn#1,225#836
  3. 382Evangelina#1,324#942
  4. 379Carla#1,252#873
  5. 351Vilma#1,020#669
Fallers
  1. 597Albertine#944#1,541
  2. 462Cleora#895#1,357
  3. 461Lorrayne#988#1,449
  4. 453Hermina#996#1,449
  5. 307Ethelene#913#1,220

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,110,505 boys got a published name in 1926; 1 in 966 of them was named Earnest, which outranked 97.0% of the 4,837 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.0% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Earnest
  1. #144Irving1,159
  2. #145Billie1,155
  3. #146Alexander1,150
  4. #147Earnest1,149
  5. #148Keith1,120
  6. #149Horace1,107
  7. #150Oliver1,065
Biggest movers since 1925
Risers
  1. 477Jonnie#1,332#855
  2. 433Jorge#1,425#992
  3. 410Faustino#1,390#980
  4. 404Adelbert#1,246#842
  5. 381Cameron#1,164#783
Fallers
  1. 531Okey#984#1,515
  2. 459Florentino#973#1,432
  3. 407Rexford#924#1,331
  4. 380Marshal#973#1,353
  5. 378Coolidge#746#1,124

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1926