# Ernest

/ˈɝnəst/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ernest
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. male given name

noun · CEFR A1

a traditional first name for a man.

For teachers: a masculine given name, notably associated with the Victorian era and literary figures.

- Ernest Hemingway is one of the most famous American writers of the last century.
- The protagonist in Oscar Wilde's famous play discovers the social advantages of being named Ernest while leading a double life.

### 2. surname

noun · CEFR A1

a family name or last name.

For teachers: a surname of Germanic origin, often found in English-speaking and German-speaking countries.

- The local library was named after the Ernest family who donated the land.
- Genealogical records indicate that the Ernest lineage in this region dates back to the early eighteenth-century migrations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.