Erna

Updated: April 25, 2022 by MomsWhoThink Staff

Erna originated in two different cultures. It was a popular name in Norse cultures because of their mythology, but Erna also comes from Ernest. As of 2021, Erna is only a top 11,000 option.

Meaning of the name Erna:

Norse: brisk, vigorous, hale
Germanic: serious
English: serious

Origin of the name Erna:

Erna originated in several countries in Europe as the feminine version of Ernest. Ernest comes from the Germanic word “eornost.” It came to England from the German House of Hanover in the eighteenth century. Ernest, and the feminine version, Erna, became popular in America because of Ernest Hemingway. Some individuals believe that this baby name comes from the Old Norse culture, as Erna was the wife of Jarl, according to legend.

Symbolism of the name Erna:

The baby name Erna means “brisk,” “vigorous,” or “hale” in Norse. Erna was the wife of Jarl, the founder of the warrior race. Erna originates from the old Germanic word “eornost.” In English, “eornost” translates to “serious.”

Style of the name Erna:

Traditional

Gender of the name Erna:

Erna is a vintage-sounding name for girls.

Pronunciation of the name Erna:

EH-nah, EHR-na

Number of syllables in the name Erna:

Two

Emotion evoked from the name Erna:

Erna feels old-fashioned and mature. It is a wholesome and kind-hearted baby name.

Alternative spellings for the name Erna:

Ehrna
Ehrnah
Ernah
Ernna
Ernnah

Nicknames for the name Erna:

Ern
Er
Ernie
Erny
Nena
Nay

Popularity of the name Erna:

Erna was a popular baby name in America in the first half of the twentieth century. It stayed on the top 1,000 list until 1942 when it was number 864. Erna ranked highest in 1900 and 1906 at rank 308. As of 2021, Erna is a top 11,000 option at number 10,778.