Erik
The given name Eric, Erich, Erikk, Erik, Erick, Eirik, or Eiríkur is derived from the Old Norse name Eiríkr.
Meaning & Origin of Erik
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 Erik
Erik first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1911, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1980, when 4,914 Eriks were born — ranking #64 that year. As of 2026, Erik ranks #484 for baby boys with 644 births, falling sharply (-16%). In total, more than 158K Eriks have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Erik
Phonetically similar names — useful when Erik 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 Erik
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About the name Erik
Erik is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1911 and has accumulated 158K births in the dataset. Erik's peak popularity came in 1980 when it ranked #64. Use the chart and map above to compare Erik's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1980 →
- Names of the 1980s →
- 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.