Meaning & Origin
A male given name from Spanish.
Ernesto is a boy's and girl's baby name of Spanish origin, the Spanish form of Ernest, from the Old Germanic eornost meaning "serious," "earnest," or "vigorous." It has been one of the most enduring names in Spanish and Italian naming tradition.
Ernesto "Che" Guevara — the Argentine revolutionary whose image became one of the most reproduced photographs of the 20th century — gave the name a complex political resonance. With over 44,000 U.S. births recorded, Ernesto has been a constant presence in Hispanic-American communities, carrying both dignity and warmth.