Fun Facts About the Name Erling
- More than 1 thousand babies named Erling: U.S. records list 1,402 babies given the name Erling from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Erling Mean?
Erling is a Scandinavian masculine name. It comes from the Old Norse Erlingr, whose established meaning is "descendant of an earl" or "son of an earl." The name is formed from the same root as Old Norse jarl, "earl" or "chieftain" (the source of English earl), with the suffix -ingr, which indicates descent or belonging. Literally, it refers to someone of an earl's lineage; the common rendering "son of an earl" is a customary simplification, not a strict patronymic formed with -son.
Erling Name History & Origins
The Old Norse form Erlingr is documented in medieval Scandinavia. The name appears in Norway by the 10th century. An early bearer was Erlingr Skjálgsson (c. 975 - 1028), a chieftain from Rogaland in western Norway who is mentioned in Heimskringla and other kings' sagas. Another medieval Norwegian figure was Erlingr Ormsson, called Erling Skakke (c. 1115 - 1179), a nobleman and military leader during the Norwegian civil wars; he was the father of King Magnus V. The name continued in use in Norway after the Middle Ages and is also found in Denmark and Sweden. It is not a traditional English given name. A modern bearer is the Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland.
How Popular is the Name Erling?
Erling recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2023. Its best rank was #672 in 1913.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,291 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 2024 | #2,915 | 43 | 0.0025% |
| 2023 | #2,487 | 54 | 0.0032% |
| 2022 | #4,338 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 2021 | #5,403 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2020 | #12,617 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #12,793 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1972 | #5,202 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #3,349 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1966 | #3,650 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1965 | #3,337 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1964 | #4,235 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1963 | #3,136 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1962 | #3,405 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1961 | #3,771 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1960 | #2,742 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1958 | #2,204 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1957 | #3,342 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1956 | #3,654 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1955 | #2,339 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1954 | #2,639 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1953 | #2,986 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1952 | #2,737 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1951 | #2,285 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1950 | #2,356 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1949 | #1,888 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1948 | #2,247 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1947 | #2,101 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1946 | #1,613 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1945 | #2,626 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1944 | #1,546 | 20 | 0.0015% |
| 1943 | #2,010 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1942 | #1,645 | 19 | 0.0014% |
| 1941 | #2,025 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1940 | #1,699 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1939 | #1,546 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1938 | #1,922 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1937 | #1,651 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1936 | #1,830 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1935 | #1,370 | 25 | 0.0024% |
| 1934 | #1,335 | 26 | 0.0025% |
| 1933 | #1,315 | 26 | 0.0026% |
| 1932 | #1,363 | 26 | 0.0025% |
| 1931 | #1,370 | 26 | 0.0025% |
| 1930 | #1,265 | 32 | 0.0029% |
| 1929 | #1,158 | 36 | 0.0033% |
| 1928 | #1,194 | 36 | 0.0033% |
| 1927 | #1,182 | 37 | 0.0033% |
| 1926 | #1,748 | 20 | 0.0018% |
| 1925 | #1,128 | 39 | 0.0035% |
| 1924 | #1,076 | 44 | 0.0039% |
| 1923 | #1,104 | 42 | 0.0038% |
| 1922 | #1,519 | 25 | 0.0023% |
| 1921 | #1,183 | 37 | 0.0034% |
| 1920 | #985 | 49 | 0.0046% |
| 1919 | #1,013 | 45 | 0.0046% |
| 1918 | #1,068 | 41 | 0.0040% |
| 1917 | #986 | 44 | 0.0048% |
| 1916 | #991 | 42 | 0.0047% |
| 1915 | #895 | 48 | 0.0057% |
| 1914 | #1,031 | 30 | 0.0046% |
| 1913 | #672 | 45 | 0.0088% |
| 1912 | #947 | 23 | 0.0053% |
| 1911 | #1,824 | 5 | 0.0022% |
| 1910 | #1,345 | 7 | 0.0036% |
| 1908 | #1,446 | 5 | 0.0032% |
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.
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How the Name Erling 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.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Erling's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Erling's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.