Andrew vs Ernest
Andrew and Ernestcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Andrew was ranked #95 and Ernest #552 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #104 and Ernest #727 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #315 and Ernest #296 among boys in England and Wales.
Andrew and Ernest over time
Andrew and Ernest appear together in 2 published lists, across 60 years of shared records. Andrew held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Ernest in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Longest-running competitions
Andrew and Ernest were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 31 years, from 1964 to 2021, ending at #95 and #552.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys31 shared years, 1964–2021
Andrew held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Ernest in 0.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #16 in 1993, Ernest #167 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Andrew #95, Ernest #552.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Ernest in 3.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #29 in 1996, Ernest #270 in 2022.
The order changed in 2022: Ernest moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #291 and #305; by 2022 that had become #301 and #270.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #315, Ernest #296.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Andrew | Ernest |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | The English form of Greek Andreas, from 'andreios' ('manly, masculine'), itself from 'aner' ('man'). The apostle Andrew was the first disciple to join Jesus and is patron saint of Scotland. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek, biblical | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæn.dɹuː/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #296 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Andrew has a recorded origin (Greek, biblical); Ernest does not have one recorded yet.
- Andrew and Ernest both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Andrew; Ernest doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Andrew
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #344 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–2013
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–2013).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #106 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Ernest
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #181 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2021
Highest recorded position: #167 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1968 (recorded 1964–2021).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #296 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys