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Erna

Quick answerThe name 'Erna' is a feminine given name derived from the Old High German word *arn* (eagle), meaning "eagle" or "strong as an eagle." It is used primarily in German, Scandinavian, and Dutch cultures, often as a short form of names like Ernestine, and gained popularity in the early 20th century, though it has no…

German · Girl · 2 syllables

E
Rare

Popularity & facts

Relative popularity index, 2010–2025
GenderGirl
US Rank#14,017
TrendStable
Peak year1916
Syllables2
OriginGerman
LanguageGerman
CultureGerman, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Slovene, Norse Mythology, Icelandic
Letters4
Numerology2 Chaldean 4
Global rank#49

Popularity over time

Popularity index
Hover the line to see any year. 100 = most popular.

Historical popularity from 1880–2025 · US Social Security Administration data

About the name Erna

The name 'Erna' is a feminine given name derived from the Old High German word *arn* (eagle), meaning "eagle" or "strong as an eagle." It is used primarily in German, Scandinavian, and Dutch cultures, often as a short form of names like Ernestine, and gained popularity in the early 20th century, though it has no specific religious association.

Cross-referenced with Behind the Name. AI-assisted, community-reviewable. Suggest an improvement.

Etymology

The name 'Erna' is a feminine given name derived from the Old High German word *arn* (eagle), meaning "eagle" or "strong as an eagle." It is used primarily in German, Scandinavian, and Dutch cultures, often as a short form of names like Ernestine, and gained popularity in the early 20th century, though it has no specific religious association.

Erna currently ranks #14,017 in the United States as a girl's name. It reached its peak popularity around 1916.

Variants & nicknames

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Sibling name ideas

German, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Slovene, Norse Mythology, Icelandic names that sit beautifully beside Erna

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Phonetic match, not just spelling
Erin
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"Erin derives from the Irish name Éireann, meaning "Ireland" or "from Ireland," with roots in Old Irish and the Gaelic…"

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Eireann
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"# Eireann Eireann means "Ireland" and derives directly from Old Irish "Ériu," the name of the Celtic goddess associated with…"

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Erwin
Unisex German

"Erwin derives from the Germanic elements "er" (meaning honorable or noble) and "win" (meaning friend), literally meaning "honorable friend" or…"

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Eirinn
Girl Ireland

"The name 'Eirinn' is a variant of 'Erin,' an anglicized form of the Irish Gaelic word *Éirinn*, the dative case…"

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Eren
Unisex Turkish

"The name Eren is derived from Turkish and means "saint" or "holy," with roots in Persian and Islamic tradition."

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Erwan
Unisex Breton

"Erwan is a Breton form of the name Erwan, derived from the Old Irish name Éarnán, which means "little eagle"…"

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Erno
Boy Finnish

"The given name 'Erno' is derived from the Hungarian name 'Ernő', which is a diminutive form of 'Ernő' or 'Ernest',…"

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Eirin
Girl Irish

"# Eirin Etymology and Meaning Eirin is an Irish feminine given name derived from the Irish word "Éire" (Ireland) combined…"

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Ernie
Unisex English

"Ernie is a diminutive form of Ernest, derived from the Germanic name Ernust, which stems from the Old High German…"

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Earnan
Boy Irish

"Earnan derives from the Irish name Éarnan, which comes from the Old Irish elements "ear" (meaning red or brown) and…"

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Eryn
Unisex English (Modern)

"The given name 'Eryn' is derived from the Welsh word 'Eryndor', meaning 'noble lord', with its linguistic root in the…"

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Erinn
Unisex Irish

"Erinn is a feminine given name meaning "Ireland" or "Irish," derived from the Irish name Éirinn, which is the poetic/genitive…"

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