Ernesto

Serious; earnest

Ernesto means “serious” or “earnest” and has Germanic roots. It is a masculine name used in Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, related to German Ernst and to Ernest in English and French. The name family goes back to Old High German ernust, a word for earnestness or seriousness. In Spanish, say er-NES-toh: three syllables, with the emphasis in the middle and the final o clearly sounded. That ending opens out the compact consonants of the name, giving Ernesto a rounded, warm finish. It has a classic, substantial feel, with a more flowing rhythm than the brief Ernst.

Etymology: Ernesto is a Spanish, Italian and Portuguese form in the Ernst/Ernest family, whose root is Old High German ernust, meaning earnestness or seriousness.