Declining since 1997, #13,208 for girls today.
Popularity of Erykah since 1997
Babies named Erykah per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1990s | 685 |
| 2000s | 538 |
| 2010s | 247 |
| 2020s | 84 |
Meaning & origin
Erykah first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1997, a year that also marks its peak rank of 13,208. The name's trajectory has been falling since 1997, with roughly 1 in 267,878 babies given the name in 2025. This modern spelling was shaped by the immediate influence of singer Erykah Badu, though the name itself is a respelling of the established Scandinavian name Erica. While it never broke into the top 1,000, its appearance in the late 1990s reflects a broader trend of creatively spelled names inspired by pop culture figures.
Erykah is a modern respelling of Erica, the feminine form of Eric, derived from Old Norse Eiríkr, meaning 'eternal ruler.' The spelling with a 'y' and 'h' was popularized in the late 1990s by the neo-soul singer Erykah Badu (born Erica Wright), though the exact inspiration is unclear. The name entered U.S. records in 1997, coinciding with Badu's breakout album. While Erica has Scandinavian roots, Erykah is essentially a modern English coinage with no direct ties to Arabic or other languages, despite its stylistic resemblance to names like Aaliyah.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ery, Ricky, Kah
Sibling names for Erykah
Names that share Erykah's style, for a brother or sister.
