Declining since 1991, #545 for boys today.
Popularity of Erik since 1911
Babies named Erik per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 52 |
| 1920s | 141 |
| 1930s | 232 |
| 1940s | 857 |
| 1950s | 2,450 |
| 1960s | 14,770 |
| 1970s | 32,094 |
| 1980s | 36,350 |
| 1990s | 33,605 |
| 2000s | 22,408 |
| 2010s | 10,506 |
| 2020s | 3,996 |
Meaning & origin
Erik is a Scandinavian given name with an Old Norse heritage, meaning 'eternal ruler.' Recorded in the United States since at least 1911, it saw particular use in the 1980s, reaching its highest rank (peak year 1980) before entering a steady decline that began in 1991. As of 2025, it ranks 545th and is given to roughly 1 in 3,111 newborn boys. Regional popularity is strongest in Idaho, Utah, and New Mexico, where the name has been a familiar choice for generations. While the variant Eric is more common in English-speaking countries, Erik retains its Nordic spelling and continues to be used by families honoring Scandinavian heritage or favoring its straightforward, strong sound.
Erik is a Scandinavian form of the Old Norse name Eiríkr, composed of ei 'ever, always' and ríkr 'ruler.' The name was borne by many early Scandinavian kings, including Erik the Red, the Norse explorer who founded the first Norse settlement in Greenland. It has been widely used throughout Scandinavia and was adopted in other Germanic languages, though the spelling Eric is more common in English.
Where Erik is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Erik” around the world
Where Erik lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
25
babies in 2024
Ireland
7
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Rick, Ricky
Sibling names for Erik
Names that share Erik's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Ingrid, Karin, Sonja, Freya, Astrid, Hilda, Karina, Mara, Anette, Annika, Elli, Greta, Jonna, Kirsten, Linnea, Lisbeth, Liv, Maren, Petra, Signe, Anja, Arica, Britta, Dagmar, Elin, Elisabet, Elizabet, Freyja, Helga, Inga, Inger, Karine, Kati, Kerstin, Klara, Maja, Maris, Marna, Nilsa, Rebecka, Sigrid, Siri, Thora, Thyra, Anneka, Annica, Arna, Beatris, Berit, Blenda, Brita, Dietra, Ebba, Edda, Erikka, Erla, Eryka, Freja, Gerda, Gudrun, Hilde, Hildur, Ilsa, Inge, Ingeborg, Janne, Kaaren, Kajsa, Katrin, Katrine, Kirsti, Kisa, Leida, Linde, Lova, Margit, Marit, Marja, Sanna, Signa, Svea, Tekla, Tora, Vara, Alwilda, Anikka, Auda, Calle, Dala, Disa, Halla, Ingris, Jensine, Jordis, Kalla, Kalle, Karlina, Kjersten, Lene, Lilja, Linnae, Lisbet, Nanna, Ragna, Rakel, Senta, Solveig, Sylvi, Thyri, Torvi, Tove, Viveca, Saga, Alvilda, Ane, Astryd, Birgit, Dagny, Elfida, Elvi, Fredrika, Fryda, Gunda, Gunhild, Hedda, Hela, Ingri, Kirstina, Kirstine, Kjersti, Margrete, Oline, Reeta, Stina, Trine, Ulla, Valborg
Brothers: Lars, Nils, Olaf, Bjorn, Sven, Axel, Kris, Kristian, Albin, Anders, Gunnar, Gust, Hans, Henrik, Johan, Karl, Leif, Linus, Magnus, Markus, Mikael, Odin, Soren, Aksel, Ander, Arne, Arvid, Carsten, Einar, Erling, Gustav, Ivar, Iver, Jansen, Karel, Karsten, Kristoffer, Nels, Nicklas, Nicolai, Niels, Oden, Ole, Oskar, Sander, Steffen, Stellan, Thor, Waldemar, Andrik, Arjan, Asta, Bertil, Edvin, Erland, Eryk, Even, Fredrik, Gillis, Gustaf, Haakon, Hansen, Harald, Helmer, Jahn, Jaun, Joh, Knute, Kristoff, Larsen, Lennart, Marten, Patrik, Peder, Ragnar, Rollo, Rune, Selmer, Sigurd, Tor, Torben, Torsten, Trygve, Tyr, Valdemar, Viggo, Alarik, Artur, Claus, Eivin, Erric, Henning, Henrick, Hilding, Hjalmer, Holger, Jesper, Kjell, Lauris, Lief, Lindberg, Mads, Mattis, Nichlas, Niklas, Nilson, Olson, Per, Rik, Rorik, Thorsten, Aarvik, Andrus, Aniken, Bertel, Brand, Drakkar, Edrik, Frans, Halvor, Havard, Hilmar, Hjalmar, Jarl, Joahan, Joakim, Kaspar, Kristjan, Marte, Odinn, Olof, Rasmus, Roald, Steen, Stein, Sten, Thorvald, Twan
Names like Erik
Names whose popularity has moved with Erik's over the last 50 years.
