Erik
Erik was the 546th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 549 babies. Its best year was 1980, when it ranked 64th with 4,918 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 209 places. More babies were named Erik in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Eric) eternal ruler (probably) · Old Norse
- Rank in 2025
- #546 boys, down 124 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 549boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19804,918 babies
- Total since 1880
- 158,126babies recorded
What does the name Erik mean?
Erik 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
Erik popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 665 since 1964.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #546 | 549 |
| 2020 | #422 | 708 |
| 2010 | #256 | 1,337 |
| 2000 | #143 | 2,722 |
| 1990 | #96 | 3,956 |
| 1980 | #64 | 4,918 |
| 1970 | #101 | 3,245 |
| 1960 | #360 | 472 |
| 1950 | #592 | 132 |
| 1940 | #971 | 44 |
| 1930 | #1,847 | 17 |
| 1920 | #3,298 | 8 |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Erik, counting every spelling?
Erik is a spelling of Eric, a name family that ranked #141 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #546 for Erik 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 Erik?
549 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Erik (0.15 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Erik 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 15 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Erik.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Erik?
About 146,100 people born in the US named Erik are alive today, with a median age of 38; half are between 27 and 48. That makes Erik 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.
Erik by state
How common Erik was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Colorado (2.0×), Oregon (1.8×), Nevada (1.8×), Texas (1.7×), Washington (1.6×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in Iowa, Louisiana, Pennsylvania.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Erik: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Erik, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Erik
What does Erik mean?
Erik is a spelling of Eric, which means “eternal ruler (probably)” (Old Norse origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Erik?
Erik was the 546th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 549 babies. Its best year was 1980, when it ranked 64th with 4,918 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 209 places. More babies were named Erik in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Is Erik a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Erik in the US.
Where is Erik most popular?
In 2021–2025, Erik was most common in Colorado (0.76 per 1,000 boys), followed by Oregon and Nevada.