What vibes do you get from [name_m]Ernest[/name_m]? Aesthetic? What kind of man is he? Would [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] be ridiculous for me to use considering my 13yo’s middle name is [name_m]Grover[/name_m]? lol We call him by his first and middle often and some family members call him just [name_m]Grover[/name_m].
Mostly makes me think of the Importance of Being [name_m]Earnest[/name_m]. It’s fun.
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I actually love [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] and [name_m]Grover[/name_m] together but it is definitely giving [name_f]Sesame[/name_f] [name_f]Street[/name_f] I’m afraid 
[name_m]Ernest[/name_m] to me is entirely influenced by The Importance of Being [name_m]Earnest[/name_m] - it’s charmingly old fashioned, sweet, upper crusty, perhaps a little gawky in an entirely endearing way.
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@marysia @persephonescrown so y’all don’t immediately think of [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] Goes to Jail or [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] Saves [name_u]Christmas[/name_u]? 
In the US I think most people of my generation and older will immediately think of that [name_m]Ernest[/name_m], but anyone younger is unlikely to. I personally think of [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] [name_m]Hemingway[/name_m], but I think I’m in the minority around here. I’m not sure if I care though. lol
this Brit has never heard of ‘em 
I do like Hemingway and he’d be my next thought after Wilde!
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@persephonescrown Oh goodness! Well you’re either really missing out or should be thankful depending on your sense of humor. lol There were several [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] movies made in the 90s. He’s a lovable screw up who’s always trying to help, but usually makes a mess of things. I guess it would be comparable to naming your kid Mr. [name_u]Bean[/name_u]. 
The association really doesn’t bother me, I just wondered if anyone would make it. I might have to get on some FB groups to ask more Americans. I really think he’s probably the biggest reason why [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] isn’t being used in the US with the rise of other “old man” names.
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Gotcha. Definitely not one that translates across the pond, but I’m sure some of the ameriberries will be able to shed more light 
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Ameriberry here, born in the early 90s, and I don’t think of the Ernest movies at all. I have heard of them, but have never seen them. My first association is Hemingway as well, and also just the adjective earnest. Both of those things give me a very literary, studious vibe, while the name itself still feels laidback and approachable. Until now, I haven’t given a lot of thought to Ernest, but I’m really liking it! Definitely an underused old man name and that T ending is really cool for both boys and girls right now. Ernest fits right in with August and Everett to me.
And I think that Grover as a middle name of a brother is totally fine.
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@macy13 thanks for your input! It’s very helpful! I’ve asked my husband about [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] before and he does immediately think of the [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] movies. While the association doesn’t bother him, I think he worries about other people continuously making the association. I’d like to gather lots of comments like yours to put his mind at ease, so thanks again!
[name_m]Ernest[/name_m] feels sort of Victorian or 1950s 
Sort of handsome, kind of literary, with a hint of extravagance too.
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Hot topic for some as it’s [name_f]Princess[/name_f] Eugenie’s newly born, second son’s name! I see it as either [name_u]Royal[/name_u] and poncy or rugged and literary or an overlap of both.
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Nope - haven’t heard of either! But I’m not American.
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[name_f]My[/name_f] husband is [name_m]Ernesto[/name_m], the Spanish nickname is Neto. I love [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] it reminds me of the early 1900s/Ernest [name_m]Hemingway[/name_m]
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I’m an American born in the 90s and this is my first and overwhelming association with the name [name_m]Ernest[/name_m], lol.
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I love [name_m]Ernest[/name_m]! I agree that it has similarities with other trending old man names. [name_f]My[/name_f] personal associations are The Importance of Being [name_m]Earnest[/name_m] and [name_u]Bert[/name_u] and [name_m]Ernie[/name_m]. I haven’t heard of the [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] movies (American here—but I was homeschooled. )
[name_f]My[/name_f] guess would be that the [name_f]Sesame[/name_f] [name_f]Street[/name_f] association puts a damper on its popularity. The more popular old man names also tend to have more vowels in between consonants (I’m sure there’s a proper linguistic term for that I just don’t know). The “Ern” syllable definitely makes it more clunky than the names that are coming back already—August, [name_u]Everett[/name_u], [name_u]Walter[/name_u], etc.
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Consonant clusters 
And I think you’re onto something here - they aren’t very fashionable sounds just now!
That being said, I love Ernest - I’m not American so can’t give you useful feedback on any cultural associations over there, but it sounds gentle, handsome, and literary to me (must be the Hemingway / Oscar Wilde play connection that gives me a literary feel).
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I’m American, and my first associations are The Importance of Being [name_m]Earnest[/name_m] and [name_m]Hemingway[/name_m] (as well as my high school biology teacher). I’ve never heard of the [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] movies, though I was born in ‘02.
With a brother’s middle name being [name_m]Grover[/name_m], I don’t think the [name_f]Sesame[/name_f] [name_f]Street[/name_f] connection is a big deal. I don’t think I’d have noticed, since it’s been so very long since I’ve seen that show!
[name_m]Ernest[/name_m] is a charming, smart name. It’s musty-dusty vintage, an epitome of “old man,” and so underused! [name_m]Eugene[/name_m] is one that makes me feel the same warm way without the associations you’re concerned about, FWIW!
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Definitely think of [name_m]Hemingway[/name_m] first!
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I’m an American born in the late 80s - I’ve heard of the [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] movies, but never seen them and I didn’t think of them until you mentioned it!
I have a son named [name_u]Arthur[/name_u], like the tv show from a similar generation. Some people briefly reference the character, but I’m actually surprised how many don’t, either because they don’t think of it or they know it would be annoying to mention. 
I’m guessing [name_m]Ernest[/name_m] would be the same way.
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To me, it’s old-fashioned but ready for a comeback. I imagine a well-dressed, well-mannered young boy who wears glasses.
[name_m]Ernest[/name_m] and [name_m]Grover[/name_m] together might be a bit odd, but not the type of thing to overthink imo.
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