Eric Name Meaning
The name Eric literally means “ever-ruler” or “eternal king.” But, the name has come to take on a few additional meanings over the centuries. For example, some people associate the name Eric with courage, honor, and loyalty. Others might see the name as a symbol of wisdom and intelligence.
In modern times, the name Eric is often associated with dependability and responsibility. It’s a name that suggests a person who can be trusted to follow through on their commitments and take charge when necessary.
Origins of the Name Eric
The name Eric is of Scandinavian origin, specifically from the Old Norse name Eiríkr. The name Eiríkr is made up of two parts: “ei” which means “ever” or “always,” and “ríkr” which means “ruler” or “king.” So, the name Eric literally means “ever-ruler” or “eternal king.”
In ancient Scandinavia, the name Eiríkr was often given to boys who were born into noble or royal families. It was a name that was intended to convey strength, power, and leadership. And, as the Vikings spread their influence throughout Europe, the name Eiríkr (and later, Eric) was introduced to new cultures and languages.
Popularity of the Name Eric
The name Eric has been a popular choice for boys for centuries. It was one of the most common names in Scandinavia during the Viking Age, and it quickly spread throughout Europe as the Vikings expanded their territories.
In the United States, the name Eric began to gain popularity in the early 20th century. By the 1950s and 1960s, it was one of the most popular names for boys in the country. According to Social Security Administration data, the name Eric was in the top 20 most popular names for boys in the United States every year between 1950 and 1983.
The popularity of the name Eric has waned in recent years, but it is still a popular choice for parents. In 2020, it was the 112th most popular name for boys in the United States.
Famous Erics
Throughout history, there have been many notable people named Eric. Here are a few examples:
- Eric the Red: A Viking explorer who is credited with discovering and settling Greenland.
- Eric Bloodaxe: A Viking king who ruled over Norway and parts of England.
- Eric Clapton: A British musician who is widely considered to be one of the greatest guitarists of all time.
- Eric Cartman: A fictional character from the animated television series South Park.
- Eric Church: A country music singer and songwriter.
- Eric Bana: An Australian actor and comedian.
Final Thoughts on the Name Eric
The name Eric is a classic, timeless name that has stood the test of time. It’s a name that conveys strength, power, and leadership, and has been popular with parents for centuries. Even though its popularity has waned in recent years, it’s still a name that is well-liked by many. If you’re looking for a strong, dependable name for your son, Eric is definitely worth considering.
Infographic of Eric name meaning, which is A form of Eiríkr, Eric is a Scandinavian name meaning everlasting ruler.
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Eric Name Popularity
How popular is the name Eric? Here’s everything we know.
| Year |
Rank |
# Births |
% Births |
| 1910 |
509 |
8 |
0.0023% |
| 1911 |
523 |
9 |
0.0024% |
| 1912 |
454 |
37 |
0.0073% |
| 1913 |
474 |
46 |
0.0081% |
| 1914 |
464 |
70 |
0.01% |
| 1915 |
491 |
88 |
0.0097% |
| 1916 |
480 |
101 |
0.0105% |
| 1917 |
425 |
136 |
0.0136% |
| 1918 |
432 |
146 |
0.0136% |
| 1919 |
446 |
136 |
0.013% |
| 1920 |
453 |
138 |
0.0124% |
| 1921 |
478 |
128 |
0.0112% |
| 1922 |
455 |
146 |
0.0131% |
| 1923 |
499 |
115 |
0.0103% |
| 1924 |
423 |
168 |
0.0145% |
| 1925 |
418 |
166 |
0.0147% |
| 1926 |
434 |
156 |
0.0142% |
| 1927 |
438 |
159 |
0.0144% |
| 1928 |
435 |
153 |
0.0143% |
| 1929 |
431 |
146 |
0.0141% |
| 1930 |
417 |
159 |
0.0152% |
| 1931 |
398 |
164 |
0.0166% |
| 1932 |
422 |
140 |
0.0142% |
| 1933 |
379 |
164 |
0.0176% |
| 1934 |
354 |
200 |
0.0207% |
| 1935 |
330 |
236 |
0.0243% |
| 1936 |
324 |
236 |
0.0245% |
| 1937 |
324 |
237 |
0.0241% |
| 1938 |
292 |
318 |
0.0311% |
| 1939 |
268 |
375 |
0.0369% |
| 1940 |
252 |
442 |
0.0416% |
| 1941 |
199 |
669 |
0.0594% |
| 1942 |
183 |
835 |
0.0661% |
| 1943 |
161 |
1,138 |
0.0872% |
| 1944 |
158 |
1,170 |
0.0944% |
| 1945 |
153 |
1,322 |
0.1084% |
| 1946 |
134 |
1,797 |
0.1218% |
| 1947 |
122 |
2,332 |
0.1397% |
| 1948 |
114 |
2,473 |
0.1549% |
| 1949 |
104 |
2,762 |
0.1717% |
| 1950 |
98 |
3,091 |
0.192% |
| 1951 |
93 |
3,663 |
0.216% |
| 1952 |
88 |
3,989 |
0.2285% |
| 1953 |
89 |
3,933 |
0.2222% |
| 1954 |
89 |
4,172 |
0.2282% |
| 1955 |
85 |
4,653 |
0.253% |
| 1956 |
79 |
5,249 |
0.2779% |
| 1957 |
60 |
6,615 |
0.3438% |
| 1958 |
50 |
8,190 |
0.4333% |
| 1959 |
46 |
9,724 |
0.5118% |
| 1960 |
44 |
10,531 |
0.5558% |
| 1961 |
38 |
11,107 |
0.5883% |
| 1962 |
33 |
12,356 |
0.673% |
| 1963 |
31 |
13,275 |
0.7395% |
| 1964 |
32 |
14,560 |
0.8272% |
| 1965 |
25 |
16,835 |
1.0295% |
| 1966 |
25 |
16,470 |
1.0549% |
| 1967 |
23 |
17,832 |
1.175% |
| 1968 |
22 |
18,508 |
1.2326% |
| 1969 |
21 |
20,757 |
1.3473% |
| 1970 |
18 |
23,574 |
1.4813% |
| 1971 |
18 |
22,973 |
1.5288% |
| 1972 |
16 |
22,037 |
1.618% |
| 1973 |
13 |
20,810 |
1.6052% |
| 1974 |
13 |
20,191 |
1.5535% |
| 1975 |
13 |
19,814 |
1.5419% |
| 1976 |
13 |
21,375 |
1.6585% |
| 1977 |
17 |
20,747 |
1.5392% |
| 1978 |
16 |
19,775 |
1.4709% |
| 1979 |
17 |
20,273 |
1.4378% |
| 1980 |
16 |
22,634 |
1.548% |
| 1981 |
17 |
20,723 |
1.4098% |
| 1982 |
20 |
19,876 |
1.3301% |
| 1983 |
20 |
20,353 |
1.3792% |
| 1984 |
22 |
20,953 |
1.4085% |
| 1985 |
21 |
20,838 |
1.3729% |
| 1986 |
22 |
19,525 |
1.2935% |
| 1987 |
21 |
20,201 |
1.3238% |
| 1988 |
19 |
20,160 |
1.2937% |
| 1989 |
21 |
18,976 |
1.1759% |
| 1990 |
24 |
19,417 |
1.1715% |
| 1991 |
25 |
18,050 |
1.1074% |
| 1992 |
26 |
16,136 |
1.0109% |
| 1993 |
29 |
14,541 |
0.9327% |
| 1994 |
30 |
13,309 |
0.8672% |
| 1995 |
32 |
12,480 |
0.8281% |
| 1996 |
35 |
11,607 |
0.7752% |
| 1997 |
35 |
10,317 |
0.6976% |
| 1998 |
39 |
9,963 |
0.6657% |
| 1999 |
39 |
9,379 |
0.6263% |
| 2000 |
42 |
9,156 |
0.5994% |
| 2001 |
44 |
8,555 |
0.5678% |
| 2002 |
52 |
7,927 |
0.529% |
| 2003 |
56 |
7,781 |
0.5115% |
| 2004 |
61 |
7,132 |
0.4679% |
| 2005 |
66 |
6,692 |
0.4377% |
| 2006 |
77 |
6,224 |
0.3975% |
| 2007 |
83 |
5,951 |
0.3772% |
| 2008 |
86 |
5,367 |
0.3472% |
| 2009 |
95 |
4,637 |
0.3102% |
| 2010 |
96 |
4,184 |
0.2903% |
| 2011 |
104 |
3,741 |
0.2626% |
| 2012 |
107 |
3,622 |
0.2542% |
| 2013 |
118 |
3,250 |
0.2283% |
| 2014 |
123 |
3,301 |
0.2266% |
| 2015 |
137 |
3,031 |
0.2083% |
| 2016 |
142 |
2,907 |
0.2016% |
| 2017 |
143 |
2,749 |
0.197% |
| 2018 |
160 |
2,372 |
0.1726% |
| 2019 |
175 |
2,179 |
0.161% |
| 2020 |
198 |
1,855 |
0.1457% |
| 2021 |
216 |
1,755 |
0.1436% |
District of Columbia (DC)
Data via SSA.gov.
Names Like Eric
If you like Eric, you’ll love these other names like Eric.
What names are variants of Eric?
Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Eric.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Aeric
|
Forever or alone, ruler
|
Scandinavian
|
|
|
|
Aerick
|
Forever or alone, ruler
|
Scandinavian
|
|
|
|
Aerric
|
Forever or alone, ruler
|
Scandinavian
|
|
|
|
Aerrick
|
Forever or alone, ruler
|
Scandinavian
|
|
|
|
Aerricko
|
Forever or alone, ruler
|
Scandinavian
|
|
|
|
Aric
|
Forever or alone, ruler
|
Scandinavian
|
|
|
|
Arreck
|
Forever or alone, ruler
|
Scandinavian
|
|
|
|
Arric
|
Forever or alone, ruler
|
Scandinavian
|
|
|
|
Arrick
|
Forever or alone, ruler
|
Scandinavian
|
|
|
|
Erek
|
Forever or alone, ruler
|
Scandinavian
|
|
|
|
Erich
|
Forever or alone, ruler; peaceful ruler
|
Scandinavian
|
|
|
|
Erick
|
Everlasting ruler
|
Scandinavian
|
|
|
|
Erik
|
Everlasting ruler
|
Scandinavian
|
|
|
|
Eriq
|
Forever or alone, ruler
|
Scandinavian
|
|
|
|
Erix
|
Forever or alone, ruler
|
Scandinavian
|
|
|
|
Errick
|
Forever or alone, ruler
|
Scandinavian
|
|
|
|
Eryk
|
Forever or alone, ruler; peaceful ruler
|
Scandinavian
|
|
|
|
Rick
|
A diminutive form of Richard.
|
German
|
|
|
|
Rikky
|
Forever or alone, ruler
|
Scandinavian
|
|
|
What names sound like Eric?
If you like how Eric sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Eric.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Erico
|
Home ruler; peaceful ruler
|
Spanish
|
|
|
|
Erric
|
Forever or alone, ruler
|
Scandinavian
|
|
|
What names are similar to Eric?
Find a name that’s like Eric, but just a little bit different.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Frederick
|
Peaceful ruler
|
German
|
|
|
Lists With Eric
Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Eric.
Siblings of Eric
Mamas with kids named Eric also have kids with these names.
