Eric
The given name Eric, Erich, Erikk, Erik, Erick, Eirik, or Eiríkur is derived from the Old Norse name Eiríkr.
Meaning & Origin of Eric
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
The given name Eric, Erich, Erikk, Erik, Erick, Eirik, or Eiríkur is derived from the Old Norse name Eiríkr.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Eric
Eric first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1880, with 10 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1970, when 23,573 Erics were born — ranking #18 that year. As of 2026, Eric ranks #266 for baby boys with 1,287 births, falling sharply (-36%). In total, more than 890K Erics have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Eric
Phonetically similar names — useful when Eric is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Eric
What does the name Eric mean?
How popular is Eric in 2026?
When was Eric most popular?
In which U.S. states is Eric most popular?
Is Eric a unisex name?
What names go well with Eric?
About the name Eric
Eric is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 890K births in the dataset. Eric's peak popularity came in 1970 when it ranked #13. Use the chart and map above to compare Eric's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1970 →
- Names of the 1970s →
- Names starting with "E" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.