Ernest vs Richard

Baby Name Comparison — 2026

Ernest

Boy #1,085 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"serious, determined, vigorous"

Origin: Old High German

English German French

✓ All Clear

Boy #232 Most Popular 2 Syllables

"strong ruler, powerful leader"

Origin: Germanic

English French German Spanish Italian

12 High Risk

{:type=>:nickname, :severity=>:medium, :message=>"'Richard' can be twisted to 'bitch'"}

Ernest Rank #1,085

Richard Rank #232

Richard is more popular, ranked #232 vs #1085 for Ernest.

Is Ernest or Richard more popular?

Richard is more popular, ranked #232 compared to Ernest at #1085 in the United States.

What do Ernest and Richard mean?

Ernest means "serious, determined, vigorous" (Old High German origin). Richard means "strong ruler, powerful leader" (Germanic origin).

Are Ernest and Richard boy or girl names?

Ernest is primarily a boy name. Richard is primarily a boy name.