Ernest vs Emil

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Ernest

Boy #1,085 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"serious, determined, vigorous"

Origin: Old High German

English German French

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Boy #1,253 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"rival, eager to excel"

Origin: Latin

German Scandinavian Eastern European Romanian

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Ernest Rank #1,085

Emil Rank #1,253

Ernest is more popular, ranked #1085 vs #1253 for Emil.

Is Ernest or Emil more popular?

Ernest is more popular, ranked #1085 compared to Emil at #1253 in the United States.

What do Ernest and Emil mean?

Ernest means "serious, determined, vigorous" (Old High German origin). Emil means "rival, eager to excel" (Latin origin).

Are Ernest and Emil boy or girl names?

Ernest is primarily a boy name. Emil is primarily a boy name.