Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1928

Ernestine

Meaning From French Ernestine Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists

From French Ernestine. By surface analysis, Ernest +‎ -ine (feminine suffix).

Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Ernestine
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1928
1,067 babies
All-time total
44,191
#650 all-time among girls
First recorded
1880
in Social Security records

Ernestine popularity over time

44,191 babies have been named Ernestine since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.250.50.75118801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s 322 – 322 32 – #292
1890s 679 – 679 68 +111% #305
1900s 1,238 – 1,238 124 +82% #269
1910s 5,217 – 5,217 522 +321% #218
1920s 9,608 53 9,661 966 +85% #193
1930s 8,516 78 8,594 859 -11% #193
1940s 7,970 12 7,982 798 -7% #219
1950s 5,653 16 5,669 567 -29% #291
1960s 2,913 – 2,913 291 -49% #483
1970s 999 – 999 100 -66% #787
1980s 552 – 552 55 -45% #1,494
1990s 237 – 237 24 -57% #2,972
2000s 54 – 54 5 -77% #8,449
2010s 62 – 62 6 +15% #9,060
2020s (to 2025) 12 – 12 2 -68% #13,969

The story of Ernestine

Ernestine is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1880, 44,191 American babies have been named Ernestine. Its peak came in 1928, when 1,067 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Ernestine stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Ernestine?

The median living Ernestine is about 74 years old; half are between 65 and 82. An estimated 17 thousand people named Ernestine are alive in the United States today.

median 74 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Ernestine year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 – – – –
2024 – – – –
2023 – – – –
2022 – – – –
2021 6 #14,018 – –
2020 6 #13,969 – –
2019 5 #16,297 – –
2018 5 #16,433 – –
2017 5 #16,626 – –
2016 12 #9,060 – –
2015 5 #17,276 – –
2014 10 #10,396 – –
2013 – – – –
2012 12 #9,276 – –
2011 8 #12,526 – –
2010 – – – –
2009 – – – –
2008 6 #16,022 – –
2007 – – – –
2006 5 #18,010 – –
2005 7 #13,451 – –
2004 – – – –
2003 10 #9,899 – –
2002 12 #8,449 – –
2001 7 #12,466 – –
2000 7 #12,201 – –
1995 16 #5,764 – –
1990 38 #2,972 – –
1985 51 #2,085 – –
1980 67 #1,693 – –
1975 79 #1,354 – –
1970 178 #787 – –
1965 259 #599 – –
1960 401 #488 – –
1955 503 #393 – –
1950 721 #291 – –
1945 772 #239 – –
1940 767 #219 7 #2,949
1935 893 #195 12 #2,165
1930 959 #199 9 #2,847
1925 1,022 #200 5 #4,415
1920 863 #221 – –
1915 564 #249 – –
1910 184 #286 – –
1905 123 #303 – –
1900 93 #347 – –
1895 70 #344 – –
1890 68 #305 – –
1885 26 #407 – –
1880 17 #409 – –

Famous people named Ernestine

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Ernestine Anderson Ernestine Anderson American jazz and blues singer (1928–2016) Contemporary
  2. 2 Ernestine Rose Ernestine Rose American social activist (1810–1892) 19th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Ernestine, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Ernestine?

The median living Ernestine is about 74 years old. Half of all living Ernestines are between 65 and 82 years old.

How many people named Ernestine are alive today?

An estimated 17 thousand people named Ernestine are alive in the United States, based on 44,191 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Ernestine mean?

From French Ernestine. By surface analysis, Ernest +‎ -ine (feminine suffix).

How popular is the name Ernestine in 2025?

Ernestine did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Ernestine?

44,191 babies have been named Ernestine in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Ernestine most popular?

Ernestine peaked in 1928, when 1,067 newborns received the name.

Is Ernestine a boy or girl name?

Ernestine is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Ernestine rising or falling?

Ernestine is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Ernestine?

Well-known people named Ernestine include Ernestine Anderson (singer), Ernestine Rose (social activist).

Names like Ernestine

Names that sound and feel close to Ernestine: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Ernestine with similar names → More names starting with E →