Erik
Erik is a boys' name of Norse origin meaning “eternal ruler or sole ruler.” It ranked #545 in the United States in 2025. The Scandinavian spelling of Eric, from the Old Norse Eiríkr.
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how do you pronounce Erik?
EHR-ik
where does the name Erik come from?
A spelling variant of Eric, or a direct borrowing of the Scandinavian Erik, from the Old Norse Eiríkr. Its second element is ríkr, ruler, and its first is read either as ever or as one, so it is usually glossed as eternal ruler or sole ruler.
It was the name of Erik the Red, the Norse explorer whom the sagas credit with founding the first European settlement in Greenland.
how popular is this name?
Erik has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 86 years since 1940. It peaked at #64 in 1980, and ranked #545 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #545 |
| 2024 | #476 |
| 2023 | #454 |
| 2022 | #432 |
| 2021 | #442 |
| 2020 | #422 |
| 2019 | #384 |
| 2018 | #376 |
| 2017 | #368 |
| 2016 | #355 |
| 2010 | #256 |
| 2000 | #143 |
| 1990 | #96 |
| 1980 | #64 |
| 1970 | #101 |
| 1960 | #360 |
| 1950 | #592 |
| 1940 | #967 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Erik fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Erik
Erik is the most common spelling in Scandinavia, Finland and the Netherlands, and eight kings of Denmark bore it. In the United States it first reached the top 1,000 in 1940, peaked at number 64 in 1980 and ranked around 545th in 2025.
who are famous people named Erik?
- Erik the Red (Norse explorer)
- Erik Satie (composer)
- Erik Erikson (psychoanalyst)
- Erik Spoelstra (basketball coach)
what are the nicknames and variants of Erik?
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Erik?
what names go well with Erik?
Sibling names that share Erik's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Erik
What does the name Erik mean?
Erik means “eternal ruler or sole ruler”.
What is the origin of the name Erik?
Erik comes from the Norse naming tradition. Related forms include Eric, Erick, Eirik and Erich.
How popular is the name Erik?
Erik ranked #545 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1980, at #64, and it has spent 86 years in the top 1,000 since 1940.
Is Erik a boy or girl name?
Erik is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Erik?
Erik is pronounced EHR-ik, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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