How Many People Are Named Ernie?

Complete statistics for the name Ernie: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Ernie
Very Rare
Irish

Ernie, a very rare male name, is held by just 10,561 people in the US, making up 1 in 31,247 Americans. The majority of those named Ernie are over 60, reflecting its status as a classic, old-school name.

~10,561
Living in US
1 in 31,247
Americans
1959
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Irish nickname for Ernest
🌐
Origin
Irish
🌟
Lucky Day
Wednesday
💎
Lucky Stone
Aquamarine
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 33
Personality Traits
Friendly Dependable Warm
33
Life Path Number

Life-path number 33 suggests it's a special soul destined for great achievements.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

10,561
Worldwide Bearers
#9,554
Global Rank
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
466
🇬🇭 Ghana
393
🇮🇪 Ireland
166
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland
153
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
142
🇯🇲 Jamaica
131
🇩🇪 Germany
118
🇧🇪 Belgium
88
🇸🇬 Singapore
75
🇧🇭 Bahrain
74

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
10,397 (98%)
♀ Female
165 (2%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 70
998
Would be under 30 (6%)
4,035
Would be 30–60 (23%)
12,182
Would be over 60 (71%)

All 17,215 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1959

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Declining

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
98
Classic Feel
74
Modern Appeal
26
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Ernie Through the Generations

Ernie has been a steady presence through the generations, peaking in popularity in 1959 with 455 births. Today, it's much rarer, with only 17,215 total births recorded since the beginning of tracking. Over 70% of people named Ernie are now over 60, indicating a strong generational skew towards older Americans.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

California 3,584
Texas 875
Ohio 736
Kentucky 707
Illinois 556
New York 477
Arizona 452
Michigan 421
New Mexico 342
Indiana 315

✨ Similar Names to Ernie

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Ernie's Irish roots

📄 About the Name Ernie

How Many People Have the Name Ernie?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 10,561 people in the United States currently share the name Ernie. That works out to roughly 1 in every 31,247 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.

Is Ernie a Common or Rare Name?

Ernie is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Ernie Mean?

Ernie means "Irish nickname for Ernest" and comes from Irish origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 33.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Ernie in SSA data, approximately 98% are male and 2% are female.

When Was Ernie Most Popular?

The name Ernie reached peak popularity in 1959, with 455 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Ernie?

Approximately 10,561 people named Ernie live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 17,215. That works out to roughly 1 in 31,247 Americans.

Is Ernie a rare name?

Ernie is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 31,247 Americans has this name.

What does the name Ernie mean?

Ernie means "Irish nickname for Ernest" and comes from Irish origins.

Is Ernie more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 98% of people named Ernie are male and 2% are female.

When was Ernie most popular?

Ernie peaked in 1959 with 455 births that year. Current trend: Declining.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US10,561
All-Time Births17,215
1 in X1 in 31,247
RarityVery Rare
GenderMale
Avg Age70
Peak Year1959
World Rank#9,554
Male %98%
Female %2%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.