Quick answer
Ernest is a boy name meaning "serious, earnest".
Pronunciation: American English /ˈɜɹ.nɪst/; British English /ˈɜː.nɪst/; French /ɛʁ.nɛst/; Catalan /ər.ˈnest/; Polish /ˈɛr.nɛst/.
Meaning and history
This name is derived from Old High German ernust meaning "serious, earnest". It was introduced to England by the German House of Hanover when they inherited the British throne in the 18th century, though it did not become common until the following century. The American author and adventurer Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) was a famous bearer of the name. It was also used by Oscar Wilde for a character in his comedy The Importance of Being Earnest (1895).
Notes and context
Usage: english, french, catalan, polish, slovak, slovene