Eric
Eric: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈɛɹɪk/
Meaning and origin of Eric
Root meaning: “ruler”
- A male given name from the Germanic languages.
Etymology
From Middle English Eric, from Old English Eoric, from Old Norse Eirríkr, Eiríkr (from ei (“always, eternal”, see aye) + ríkr (“ruler”)), or from Proto-Germanic *Aizarīkijaz (from *aizō (“honor”) + *rīkijaz (“ruler”)). Less likely from einn (“sole, alone”) + ríkr (“ruler”), from Proto-Germanic *rīks (“king”, cognate to Latin rēx and Gaulish *rīx). The name was in use in Anglo-Saxon Britain, reinforced by Scandinavian settlers before the Norman Conquest. Compare Danish Erik, German Erich. Possible doublet of Euric.
How popular is Eric?
Since 1880, 4,293 girls and 888,891 boys in the U.S. have been named Eric (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #893 in 1970. Its highest rank for boys was #13 in 1973. In 2025 it ranked #273 for boys, with 1,256 babies given the name.
Names similar to Eric
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Germanic boy names
Sibling name ideas for Eric
Sister and brother names that share Eric's Germanic roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Eric FAQ
What does the name Eric mean?
Eric traces back to a root meaning "ruler". A male given name from the Germanic languages. From Middle English Eric, from Old English Eoric, from Old Norse Eirríkr, Eiríkr (from ei (“always, eternal”, see aye) + ríkr (“ruler”)), or from Proto-Germanic *Aizarīkijaz (from *aizō (“honor”) + *rīkijaz (“ruler”)). Less likely from einn (“sole, alone”) + ríkr (“ruler”), from Proto-Germanic *rīks (“king”, cognate to Latin rēx and Gaulish *rīx). The name was in use in Anglo-Saxon Britain, reinforced by Scandinavian settlers before the Norman Conquest. Compare Danish Erik, German Erich. Possible doublet of Euric.
What is the origin of the name Eric?
Eric is listed as a name of Germanic origin.
How popular is the name Eric?
Since 1880, 4,293 girls and 888,891 boys in the U.S. have been named Eric (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #893 in 1970. Its highest rank for boys was #13 in 1973. In 2025 it ranked #273 for boys, with 1,256 babies given the name.
Is Eric a boy or girl name?
Eric is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 4,293 girls and 888,891 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.