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%
2022 229 1,531 0.1161%

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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.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Stephen

Crown

English

Charlotte

Free man

French

Jordin

Down-flowing

Hebrew

Selena

Moon

Spanish

David

Beloved

Hebrew

15 Comments

  1. It’s my husbands middle name. He always wished his first name was Eric! So we took my husbands middle name and made it our sons first and took his first name and made it baby’s middle.

    Reply

  2. I love my name it was given to me by parents the meaning of my name really motivated to involve leadership in my school, my place of worship among others

    Reply

  3. I’ve named my addition/ego Eric.

    “Forever or alone, ruler” ahahaha

    Reply

  4. It’s beautiful name . I love this name

    Reply

  5. Family name of my great great grandpa down the line . I love this name.

    Reply

  6. I love this name .

    Reply

  7. I love this name

    Reply

  8. I love my name,it was given to me by my parents, the meaning of the name really motivated to involve in leadership in my school,my place of worship and so on.And am dreaming one day to be the president of my country.

    Reply

    • I don’t

      Reply

    • Your name is stupid

      Reply

  9. I chose the name Eric as a continuation of a long legacy on my sons fathers side of the family.

    Reply

  10. He was named after his father.

    Reply

  11. I chose this name because he is a Jr

    Reply

  12. U chose this name because he is a Jr

    Reply

  13. My husband was the one who originally suggested this name, and it’s one we both like. It is simple and classic and masculine.

    Reply

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