Ernesto

Ernesto is a masculine given name of Spanish and Italian origin. It is the Romance-language form of Ernest and is widely used in Spanish- and Italian-speaking communities.

The name derives from the Latin honestus, meaning honest or serious, and is cognate with the English name Ernest. As such, Ernesto carries the sense of earnestness often associated with its English counterpart.

Usage and distribution: Ernesto is common across Spain, Italy, and much of Latin America, as well as in Portugal. It is the standard form in Spanish and Italian, with Portuguese-speaking countries also using Ernesto. The name has appeared in various cultural fields, including literature, music, and politics.

Notable people: Ernesto Guevara de la Serna, known as Che Guevara, was an Argentine revolutionary and a prominent figure of the Cuban Revolution. Ernesto Sabato was an Argentine writer and physicist. Ernesto Lecuona was a Cuban pianist and composer. In fiction, Ernesto de la Cruz is the antagonist in Disney Pixar’s Coco. The name remains in regular use in many Spanish- and Italian-speaking communities today.