Holding steady.
Popularity of Erie since 1880
Babies named Erie per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1970, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Erie's real moment was 1888.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 70 | 23 |
| 1890s | 134 | 5 |
| 1900s | 169 | 5 |
| 1910s | 306 | 81 |
| 1920s | 270 | 103 |
| 1930s | 144 | 78 |
| 1940s | 98 | 103 |
| 1950s | 80 | 227 |
| 1960s | 35 | 379 |
| 1970s | 17 | 510 |
| 1980s | 16 | 332 |
| 1990s | 17 | 94 |
| 2000s | 5 | 18 |
| 2010s | 61 | 0 |
| 2020s | 60 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Erie is a rare place name that saw modest use in the 1880s. Its peak came in 1888, ranking at position 376, the highest rank it ever achieved. The name is derived from Lake Erie, which itself took its name from the Erie people, an Indigenous tribe of the Iroquoian language family. The tribe's name has been interpreted as meaning 'long tail,' perhaps referring to the mountain lion. Though the name has not appeared in recent rankings, its sound aligns with vintage place names that saw a wave of popularity in the late 19th century. Erie remains an uncommon choice, reflecting its primary association with the Great Lake rather than a established naming tradition.
Erie is likely a place name referencing Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie people, a Native American tribe that lived along the lake's southern shore. The tribal name is believed to mean 'long tail' in reference to the mountain lion or possibly 'cat,' though earlier etymologies are speculative. The name was occasionally used as a given name in the late 19th century, particularly for girls, aligning with the popularity of place names during that era.
Sibling names for Erie
Names that share Erie's style, for a brother or sister.
