Fun Facts About the Name Eric
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 888,892 boys named Eric from 1880 through 2025.
- Decades of popularity: Eric stayed in the U.S. top 100 for 61 consecutive years, from 1950 through 2010.
- More than 893 thousand babies named Eric: U.S. records list 893,185 babies given the name Eric from 1880 through 2025. Even 4,293 girls received the name Eric - about 1 girl for every 207 boys.
What Does the Name Eric Mean?
Eric is the English form of Old Norse Eiríkr, a two-part compound name whose usual meaning is given as "ever ruler" or "eternal ruler." The second element is the Norse word ríkr, meaning "ruler, mighty, powerful," which descends from the same ancient Germanic root as Latin rex, "king."
The first element is less certain. It is most often traced to a Germanic root meaning "ever, always," related to Gothic aiws and Latin aevum, "age, eternity," which produces the customary sense "ever ruler." A competing explanation reads the same element as "one, alone," giving "sole ruler." A third suggestion links it to Old Norse eir, "help, mercy," though the "ever" and "one" readings are cited more often. Since the earliest Norse forms do not settle which root lies behind the first syllable, the exact sense remains debated; "ever ruler" is the meaning most commonly attached to the name.
Eric Name History & Origins
The name is Scandinavian in origin and is recorded in the medieval North. The Old Norse form Eiríkr appears in early Scandinavian sources, and it was carried by several rulers of the Viking Age. Eiríkr rauði, known in English as Erik the Red, established a Norse settlement in Greenland late in the 10th century. His near contemporary Eirik Haraldsson, remembered as Eric Bloodaxe, ruled Northumbria in the 10th century, and Swedish kings named Erik are recorded from roughly the same period. Erik IX of Sweden, killed in 1160, was later venerated as a saint and became a patron of that country.
The name came to the British Isles with Norse settlers and appears in medieval English records, but it remained uncommon there for centuries. The modern English spelling Eric corresponds to the Scandinavian Erik. The similar-looking Scottish and Irish name Erc is a separate name with a different origin and is not related to it.
Forms of the name in other languages include Norwegian Eirik, Icelandic Eiríkur, Finnish Erkki, German Erich, and French Éric. The feminine names Erica and Erika were built from the same root. In the English-speaking world the name is now written and pronounced as an English word rather than a Norse one, while the Scandinavian spelling Erik is also used in English.
How Popular is the Name Eric?
Eric remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1950 to 2010. Its highest annual birth count was in 1970, and people born that year turn 56 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | #17,055 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2015 | #17,270 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #17,356 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2013 | #10,495 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2010 | #13,923 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #14,151 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2008 | #12,968 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #11,084 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2006 | #10,122 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2005 | #9,064 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2004 | #4,638 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 2003 | #6,983 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2002 | #6,485 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2001 | #7,874 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2000 | #4,566 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 1999 | #4,916 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1998 | #5,011 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1997 | #3,180 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 1996 | #3,255 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 1995 | #3,040 | 38 | 0.0022% |
| 1994 | #2,423 | 53 | 0.0030% |
| 1993 | #2,545 | 49 | 0.0027% |
| 1992 | #2,328 | 56 | 0.0030% |
| 1991 | #1,919 | 73 | 0.0039% |
| 1990 | #1,816 | 79 | 0.0042% |
| 1989 | #1,343 | 115 | 0.0062% |
| 1988 | #997 | 165 | 0.0093% |
| 1987 | #994 | 158 | 0.0091% |
| 1986 | #1,019 | 150 | 0.0087% |
| 1985 | #953 | 163 | 0.0095% |
| 1984 | #977 | 148 | 0.0088% |
| 1983 | #954 | 154 | 0.0092% |
| 1982 | #1,053 | 137 | 0.0081% |
| 1981 | #1,061 | 134 | 0.0080% |
| 1980 | #967 | 153 | 0.0092% |
| 1979 | #1,010 | 141 | 0.0088% |
| 1978 | #942 | 150 | 0.0098% |
| 1977 | #1,061 | 124 | 0.0081% |
| 1976 | #958 | 133 | 0.0091% |
| 1975 | #991 | 124 | 0.0085% |
| 1974 | #910 | 139 | 0.0095% |
| 1973 | #936 | 130 | 0.0089% |
| 1972 | #1,000 | 118 | 0.0078% |
| 1971 | #940 | 137 | 0.0082% |
| 1970 | #894 | 148 | 0.0085% |
| 1969 | #940 | 128 | 0.0076% |
| 1968 | #1,232 | 79 | 0.0048% |
| 1967 | #1,097 | 90 | 0.0055% |
| 1966 | #1,192 | 81 | 0.0048% |
| 1965 | #1,328 | 68 | 0.0039% |
| 1964 | #1,501 | 57 | 0.0030% |
| 1963 | #1,765 | 43 | 0.0022% |
| 1962 | #1,794 | 41 | 0.0021% |
| 1961 | #1,750 | 43 | 0.0021% |
| 1960 | #2,327 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1959 | #1,892 | 35 | 0.0017% |
| 1958 | #2,599 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1957 | #2,681 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1956 | #3,393 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1955 | #4,869 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1954 | #4,810 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1953 | #3,326 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1952 | #2,713 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1951 | #3,337 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1950 | #3,762 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1949 | #5,483 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1948 | #5,490 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1947 | #5,561 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1942 | #3,855 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #273 | 1,256 | 0.0735% |
| 2024 | #251 | 1,402 | 0.0817% |
| 2023 | #227 | 1,544 | 0.0904% |
| 2022 | #229 | 1,560 | 0.0894% |
| 2021 | #213 | 1,789 | 0.1023% |
| 2020 | #198 | 1,917 | 0.1111% |
| 2019 | #176 | 2,204 | 0.1229% |
| 2018 | #160 | 2,408 | 0.1326% |
| 2017 | #143 | 2,782 | 0.1504% |
| 2016 | #142 | 2,928 | 0.1543% |
| 2015 | #138 | 3,045 | 0.1589% |
| 2014 | #123 | 3,321 | 0.1729% |
| 2013 | #118 | 3,265 | 0.1726% |
| 2012 | #107 | 3,636 | 0.1917% |
| 2011 | #104 | 3,750 | 0.1975% |
| 2010 | #95 | 4,200 | 0.2189% |
| 2009 | #95 | 4,645 | 0.2342% |
| 2008 | #86 | 5,377 | 0.2636% |
| 2007 | #83 | 5,959 | 0.2871% |
| 2006 | #77 | 6,231 | 0.3032% |
| 2005 | #66 | 6,697 | 0.3353% |
| 2004 | #61 | 7,133 | 0.3594% |
| 2003 | #56 | 7,787 | 0.3942% |
| 2002 | #52 | 7,927 | 0.4083% |
| 2001 | #44 | 8,559 | 0.4405% |
| 2000 | #42 | 9,161 | 0.4665% |
| 1999 | #39 | 9,382 | 0.4886% |
| 1998 | #39 | 9,964 | 0.5213% |
| 1997 | #35 | 10,317 | 0.5473% |
| 1996 | #35 | 11,610 | 0.6129% |
| 1995 | #32 | 12,486 | 0.6559% |
| 1994 | #30 | 13,310 | 0.6889% |
| 1993 | #29 | 14,548 | 0.7418% |
| 1992 | #26 | 16,145 | 0.8083% |
| 1991 | #25 | 18,051 | 0.8935% |
| 1990 | #24 | 19,429 | 0.9459% |
| 1989 | #21 | 18,978 | 0.9485% |
| 1988 | #19 | 20,174 | 1.0539% |
| 1987 | #21 | 20,203 | 1.0821% |
| 1986 | #22 | 19,528 | 1.0604% |
| 1985 | #21 | 20,843 | 1.1277% |
| 1984 | #22 | 20,956 | 1.1610% |
| 1983 | #20 | 20,356 | 1.1355% |
| 1982 | #20 | 19,879 | 1.0955% |
| 1981 | #17 | 20,715 | 1.1564% |
| 1980 | #16 | 22,614 | 1.2675% |
| 1979 | #17 | 20,269 | 1.1773% |
| 1978 | #16 | 19,763 | 1.2036% |
| 1977 | #17 | 20,745 | 1.2624% |
| 1976 | #13 | 21,363 | 1.3614% |
| 1975 | #13 | 19,796 | 1.2678% |
| 1974 | #13 | 20,188 | 1.2839% |
| 1973 | #13 | 20,802 | 1.3346% |
| 1972 | #16 | 22,031 | 1.3585% |
| 1971 | #18 | 22,964 | 1.2985% |
| 1970 | #18 | 23,573 | 1.2685% |
| 1969 | #21 | 20,746 | 1.1601% |
| 1968 | #22 | 18,502 | 1.0645% |
| 1967 | #23 | 17,831 | 1.0225% |
| 1966 | #25 | 16,472 | 0.9236% |
| 1965 | #25 | 16,830 | 0.9047% |
| 1964 | #32 | 14,567 | 0.7310% |
| 1963 | #31 | 13,277 | 0.6538% |
| 1962 | #33 | 12,343 | 0.5966% |
| 1961 | #38 | 11,114 | 0.5233% |
| 1960 | #44 | 10,534 | 0.4941% |
| 1959 | #46 | 9,729 | 0.4558% |
| 1958 | #50 | 8,189 | 0.3859% |
| 1957 | #60 | 6,620 | 0.3069% |
| 1956 | #79 | 5,253 | 0.2483% |
| 1955 | #85 | 4,659 | 0.2262% |
| 1954 | #89 | 4,169 | 0.2045% |
| 1953 | #89 | 3,929 | 0.1992% |
| 1952 | #88 | 3,990 | 0.2053% |
| 1951 | #93 | 3,664 | 0.1946% |
| 1950 | #98 | 3,095 | 0.1729% |
| 1949 | #105 | 2,768 | 0.1560% |
| 1948 | #114 | 2,492 | 0.1420% |
| 1947 | #122 | 2,345 | 0.1282% |
| 1946 | #134 | 1,820 | 0.1121% |
| 1945 | #153 | 1,351 | 0.1004% |
| 1944 | #158 | 1,195 | 0.0877% |
| 1943 | #161 | 1,170 | 0.0820% |
| 1942 | #182 | 866 | 0.0627% |
| 1941 | #199 | 703 | 0.0572% |
| 1940 | #249 | 482 | 0.0416% |
| 1939 | #258 | 432 | 0.0390% |
| 1938 | #286 | 370 | 0.0334% |
| 1937 | #310 | 299 | 0.0280% |
| 1936 | #310 | 296 | 0.0285% |
| 1935 | #321 | 288 | 0.0277% |
| 1934 | #340 | 259 | 0.0251% |
| 1933 | #352 | 234 | 0.0236% |
| 1932 | #401 | 199 | 0.0191% |
| 1931 | #386 | 213 | 0.0205% |
| 1930 | #408 | 206 | 0.0188% |
| 1929 | #408 | 205 | 0.0191% |
| 1928 | #403 | 221 | 0.0200% |
| 1927 | #419 | 208 | 0.0185% |
| 1926 | #410 | 214 | 0.0193% |
| 1925 | #411 | 211 | 0.0189% |
| 1924 | #406 | 228 | 0.0201% |
| 1923 | #463 | 175 | 0.0160% |
| 1922 | #424 | 200 | 0.0184% |
| 1921 | #459 | 179 | 0.0163% |
| 1920 | #445 | 186 | 0.0175% |
| 1919 | #426 | 190 | 0.0194% |
| 1918 | #412 | 202 | 0.0199% |
| 1917 | #413 | 186 | 0.0201% |
| 1916 | #448 | 155 | 0.0174% |
| 1915 | #437 | 155 | 0.0183% |
| 1914 | #394 | 145 | 0.0221% |
| 1913 | #413 | 109 | 0.0213% |
| 1912 | #399 | 93 | 0.0216% |
| 1911 | #499 | 35 | 0.0155% |
| 1910 | #424 | 41 | 0.0211% |
| 1909 | #439 | 33 | 0.0201% |
| 1908 | #440 | 30 | 0.0194% |
| 1907 | #498 | 22 | 0.0150% |
| 1906 | #369 | 33 | 0.0248% |
| 1905 | #467 | 23 | 0.0174% |
| 1904 | #592 | 15 | 0.0117% |
| 1903 | #323 | 34 | 0.0285% |
| 1902 | #394 | 26 | 0.0212% |
| 1901 | #375 | 25 | 0.0235% |
| 1900 | #520 | 21 | 0.0140% |
| 1899 | #461 | 17 | 0.0160% |
| 1898 | #355 | 30 | 0.0245% |
| 1897 | #341 | 30 | 0.0266% |
| 1896 | #390 | 25 | 0.0209% |
| 1895 | #442 | 20 | 0.0170% |
| 1894 | #425 | 20 | 0.0173% |
| 1893 | #550 | 13 | 0.0116% |
| 1892 | #466 | 18 | 0.0147% |
| 1891 | #418 | 18 | 0.0178% |
| 1890 | #545 | 13 | 0.0117% |
| 1889 | #392 | 21 | 0.0190% |
| 1888 | #562 | 13 | 0.0108% |
| 1887 | #559 | 11 | 0.0108% |
| 1886 | #617 | 10 | 0.0090% |
| 1885 | #467 | 16 | 0.0148% |
| 1884 | #555 | 12 | 0.0105% |
| 1883 | #569 | 11 | 0.0105% |
| 1882 | #668 | 9 | 0.0079% |
| 1881 | #619 | 9 | 0.0089% |
| 1880 | #614 | 10 | 0.0091% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Eric
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How the Name Eric Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are fine when in harmony but changeable when in discord, because many of your best qualities are then reversed. You are entertaining but may be impulsive. Freedom is a necessity, and you find it difficult to settle down. Your versatility results in many changes, and often brings travel. Your fine intellect is capable of high honors if applied seriously. You are capable of inspired thinking applied to material things. You can be restless, changeable, and very sexy. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
Position and social status is very important for you and you are always looking for way to improve your position in society. You have power and ability to chose your own destiny and achieve anything you want in life. You can expand in any direction according to your will and the set of values. You have passion for justice and belong to the position of authority. You have an inherent courage and endurance to accomplish "The Impossible Dream". With the power comes responsibility. You hold keys to the material world, but with this gift comes high spiritual responsibility to be fair and true to others. You are philosophical and mature, determined and intense with a desire to endure, often religious.
✦ Eric's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Eric's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.