Mythological Names, Nordic Names, Germanic Names, Nicknames or Pet Names

Danish, English, German, Hungarian and Spanish speaking countries

A borrowing from the Scandinavians, Erna is a name borne in Norse mythology by the wife of Jarl, the son of the god Heimdallr and the mortal Modir. Erna and Jarl became the progenitors of the noble and warrior class. Their youngest son, Konur, or one of his descendants, became the first king of Denmark. The name is defined as "capable".

Also a pet form of the Hungarian name Ernesztina or Spanish Ernesta; more generally, pet form of ern- or arn-names. As an independant name, it may be the German feminine form of Ernest, or also derived from the Germanic element 'arnuz' which means 'eagle'.