Eric Name Meaning

Eric means “forever ruler” or “always ruler.” It’s an Old Norse name derived from the Norse word “Eirikr” which means “sole ruler” or “ever powerful." While the name Eric can be traced to Norse origins, several cultures and traditions also lay claim to the name. 

In Ancient Germanic, it was one of the most common names for boys. Across Denmark, Norway, and Sweden several kings and members of royalty have been given the name Eric.

One of the earliest bearers of the original form of the name was Erik Thorvaldsson who was also known as Eric the Red. He was a 10th-century explorer who discovered Greenland. 

Although Eric is historically a boy’s name it can be given to a child of any gender. However, feminine variations like Erica and Erika are typically preferred for girls.

Eric is also a short form of the name Frederick. Eirikir is made up of two elements, “ei” which means "always or ever," and “rikr” which means "ruler."

How Popular Is the Name Eric?

Eric has been a historically popular name in many regions of Europe. But it hasn’t always been popular in English-speaking countries.

In the 19th century, it experienced a surge in popularity. This can partly be attributed to the publication of the children’s novel Eric, or Little by Little, written in 1858 by Frederic William Farrar.

According to the Social Security Administration, Eric was the 229th most common name for boys in the United States in 2022. The name's popularity peaked from the mid-60s to the late 80s.

In the 1970s, Eric ranked 14th among common boys' names. Although it is no longer as popular as it was a couple of decades ago, it remains a solid choice for a baby name. 

Name Variations 

Eric has several name variations from languages and cultures all across the world. Some of the most common of them include: 

• Arick (English)
• Eerick (Estonian)
• Eirik (Norwegian)
• Eirikur (Icelandic)
• Erich (German)
• Erick (English, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Estonian, Slovene, Norwegian) 
• Erico (Portuguese) 
• Erikas (Lithuanian) 
• Erkki (Estonian)
• Eryk (Polish) 
• Jerrik (Danish) 

Similar Names

If you like the name Eric, you’ll also like names like: 

• Alexander 
• Brandon
• Caleb
• Cedrick 
• Christopher 
• Derek
• Ethan 
• Evan
• Garrett
• Ian
• Jeffrey 
• Matthew 
• Nicholas 
• Owen 
• Robert 
• Russell
• Sean

Suggested Sibling Names for Eric

Wondering what sort of sibling names would pair great with Eric? Here are some names you could consider: 

• Ava
• Charlotte 
• Elizabeth
• Emma 
• Lily 
• Olivia 
• Rose 

Famous People Named Eric or Erik

Eric is a great name for babies of any gender. If you’ve decided to name your baby Eric, here are some famous and inspiring people also named Eric. 

• Eric Andre, American comedian 
• Eric Bana, Australian actor 
• Eric Bazilian, American singer, and songwriter 
• Eric Burdon, English singer, songwriter, and actor 
• Eric Clapton, English guitarist, and songwriter 
• Eric Gordon, American-Bahamian professional basketball player 
• Eric Hutchinson, American singer and songwriter 
• Eric Lange, American actor 
• Eric McCormack, American actor 
• Eric Nam, Korean-American singer and songwriter 
• Eric Prydz, Swedish DJ, and producer 
• Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google 
• Eric Staal, Canadian hockey player 
• Eric Welsh, British chemist, and naval intelligence officer 
• Eric Yuan, founder, and CEO of Zoom Video Communications 

Erik is the most common variation of the name Eric. If you are considering this form of the name, here are a few famous people also named Erik:

• Erik Gustaf Boström, former Prime Minister of Sweden 
• Erik Breukink, Dutch racing cyclist 
• Erik Durm, German footballer 
• Erik Estrada, American actor 
• Erik Johnson, American hockey player 
• Erik Kynard, American high jumper 
• Erik Satie, French composer 
• Erik Zabel, German cyclist