Erie
Erie is a city on the south shore of Lake Erie and the county seat of Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the fifth-most populous city in Pennsylvania and the most populous in Northwestern Pennsylvania with a population of 92,940 as of 2024 census estimates. The Erie metropolitan area had a population of 270,876 in 2020.
Meaning & Origin of Erie
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Erie is a city on the south shore of Lake Erie and the county seat of Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the fifth-most populous city in Pennsylvania and the most populous in Northwestern Pennsylvania with a population of 92,940 as of 2024 census estimates. The Erie metropolitan area had a population of 270,876 in 2020.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Origin & history
The Story of Erie
As a girl name
Erie first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1880, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1916, when 42 Eries were born — ranking #1,087 that year. As of 2026, Erie ranks #7,083 for girls with 15 births, rising sharply (+109% over the past five years). In total, more than 2K Eries have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Erie first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1880, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1970, when 81 Eries were born — ranking #895 that year. As of 2026, Erie ranks #8,454 for boys with 7 births, with steady use. In total, more than 2K Eries have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1880s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Erie
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- List of people from Erie, Pennsylvania
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Erie
Phonetically similar names — useful when Erie 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 Erie
What does the name Erie mean?
How popular is Erie in 2026?
When was Erie most popular?
In which U.S. states is Erie most popular?
Is Erie a unisex name?
What names go well with Erie?
About the name Erie
Erie is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1880 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Erie's peak popularity came in 1970 when it ranked #895. Use the chart and map above to compare Erie'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 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.