Erich
Erich was the 5937th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 15 babies. Its best year was 1971, when it ranked 441st with 343 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 2,128 places. More babies were named Erich in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Eric) eternal ruler (probably) · Old Norse
- Rank in 2025
- #5,937 boys, down 410 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 15boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1971343 babies
- Total since 1880
- 11,706babies recorded
What does the name Erich mean?
Erich is a spelling of Eric, pronounced the same way, so it shares Eric's meaning and origin.
Eric comes from the Old Norse name Eiríkr. Its second part is clearly rikr, 'ruler'. The first part is less certain: Wiktionary prefers ei, 'always, ever', or an older word for 'honor', and Wikipedia mentions a Proto-Norse word meaning 'one, alone'. Wiktionary notes that it reached English early, as Old English Eoric. Erik is the usual Scandinavian spelling, and Erich the German.
Eiríkr (Old Norse, “Eric”)ríkr (Old Norse, “ruler”)ei (Old Norse, “always, ever (one reading)”)
How sure is this? Probable. 'Ruler' is certain; the first element ('ever', 'honor' or 'one') is debated.
Related names: Erik, Erick, Erich, Eiríkur, Erica.
See also: Scandinavian names, names that mean king or queen.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Eric', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Eric', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Erich popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 32 since 1976.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5,937 | 15 |
| 2020 | #5,527 | 16 |
| 2010 | #3,141 | 36 |
| 2000 | #1,122 | 125 |
| 1990 | #718 | 201 |
| 1980 | #515 | 272 |
| 1970 | #464 | 304 |
| 1960 | #609 | 165 |
| 1950 | #1,040 | 46 |
| 1940 | #1,052 | 38 |
| 1930 | #1,287 | 31 |
| 1920 | #1,608 | 23 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | #927 | 9 |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Erich, counting every spelling?
Erich is a spelling of Eric, a name family that ranked #141 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #5,937 for Erich on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,705 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eric | 1,256 | #273 | 7,560 |
| Erick | 879 | #366 | 5,117 |
| Erik | 549 | #546 | 3,288 |
| Erich | 15 | #5,937 | 87 |
| Eryk | 6 | #11,074 | 55 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Erich?
15 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Erich (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Erich born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 554 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Erich.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Erich?
About 9,700 people born in the US named Erich are alive today, with a median age of 46; half are between 35 and 56. That makes Erich mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Erich: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Erich, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Erich
What does Erich mean?
Erich is a spelling of Eric, which means “eternal ruler (probably)” (Old Norse origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Erich?
Erich was the 5937th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 15 babies. Its best year was 1971, when it ranked 441st with 343 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 2,128 places. More babies were named Erich in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Is Erich a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Erich in the US.