Holding steady.
Popularity of Erving since 1881
Babies named Erving per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1921, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Erving's real moment was 1881.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 7 |
| 1890s | 5 |
| 1900s | 23 |
| 1910s | 124 |
| 1920s | 165 |
| 1930s | 100 |
| 1940s | 64 |
| 1950s | 102 |
| 1960s | 47 |
| 1970s | 47 |
| 1980s | 103 |
| 1990s | 79 |
| 2000s | 56 |
| 2010s | 18 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Erving is a rare given name with Scottish roots, first recorded in the United States in 1881, its peak year. It never ranked among the top 1000 names nationally; its popularity has remained extremely low and stable over the decades, with no recorded births in most recent years. As a variant of Irving, it shares the meaning 'son of the boar' from Old English. Despite its obscurity, the name has seen occasional use, possibly influenced by the fame of basketball legend Julius Erving, known as Dr. J, who popularized the surname as a given name in the late 20th century. However, the name has not entered common usage and remains a distinctive choice.
Erving is a variant of the Scottish surname and given name Irving, which derives from the Old English *Eoforwine*, composed of *eofor* 'boar' and *wine* 'friend'. The name was originally a place name from the Scottish borders, and became established as a given name in the 19th century, particularly in the United States.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Erv
Sibling names for Erving
Names that share Erving's style, for a brother or sister.
