Ernesta

Ernesta is a feminine given name used in several European languages. It is typically treated as the feminine form of Ernest (or Ernst), deriving from the Germanic element ernst, meaning serious, earnest, or resolute. The name has been adopted in different linguistic traditions with modest, enduring usage.

In Poland, Lithuania, and Italy, Ernesta has been established as a conventional personal name. In Polish and Lithuanian contexts, it functions as a standard feminine given name; in Italian usage, Ernesta is the feminine form of Ernesto. Outside these regions, the name may appear in immigrant communities or in literary or artistic contexts. It remains relatively uncommon in contemporary English-speaking countries.

Variants and related names include Erneste and Ernestina in some languages; related names include Ernest and Ernestine. Diminutives and affectionate forms vary by language.