Eric
2025 SSA
Below 5 births
About Eric
Eric is derived from the Old Norse name Eiríkr, from the components ei, meaning "ever," and ríkr, "rule." It was adopted by English speakers in the mid-nineteenth century, who were already familiar with the exploits of the tenth century Viking navigator and discoverer of Greenland, Eric the Red. Erik is an alternate spelling and the preferred form of the name across much of Europe.
Eric—the all-time most popular Scandinavian boys’ name in the U. S.—peaked in the 70s, during the Ricky Nelson/Rick Springfield period and from the mid-sixties to the late eighties, it was on the Top 25 list.
Recent years have seen it decline, as alternative 'rick' names like Maverick have climbed. Nevertheless, it remains in The US Top 300, with spelling variations Erick and Erik also in the Top 500 too. When you add all these Erics together, it begins to feel like a name just outside the Top 100, similar in popularity to August, Nicholas, Myles or Dominic.
Some of its best-known bearers include: Eric Clapton, Eric Idle, Eric Dane and major characters in The Little Mermaid, True Blood and Friday Night Lights, not to mention Eric Cartman on South Park. Simon Cowell named his first son Eric after his father.
The Old-World traditional spelling Erik is currently popular in Germany, Sweden, Hungary, Iceland and Norway - and is also favored in the UK, where Eric is out of style.
Eric is also given to girls.
Pronounced AIR-ik.
As of October 2026, Eric ranked #273 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #13 in 1975, Nameberry popularity #282.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · boys | Births · boys | US rank · girls | Births · girls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #123 | 3,321 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #138 | 3,045 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #142 | 2,928 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #143 | 2,782 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #160 | 2,408 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #176 | 2,204 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #198 | 1,917 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #213 | 1,789 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | #229 | 1,560 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | #227 | 1,544 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #251 | 1,402 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #273 | 1,256 | — | 0 |
World rankings
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Eric.
Eric on lists
Famous Erics
- Eric Victor BurdonBoy
English singer
- Eric Patrick ClaptonBoy
English musician
- Eric Hilliard "Ricky" NelsonBoy
American singer and actor
- Eric William DaneBoy
American actor
- Eric WestBoy
American actor
- Eric Benet (Jordan)Boy
American singer
- Eric Thomas DeckerBoy
American NFL football player
- (Kenneth) Eric ChurchBoy
American country singer
- Eric Scott MelvinBoy
American musician
- Eric Marlon BishopBoy
birth name of American actor Jamie Foxx
- Eric Christian OlsenBoy
American actor
- Eric Burnell ZentnerBoy
American model
- Eric SaadeBoy
Swedish Singer
- Eric Thomas AndolsekBoy
American former NFL player
- Eric LloydBoy
American actor, comedian and musician
- Eric KostonBoy
pro skateboarder
- Eric Anthony RobertsBoy
American actor
- Eric MilleganBoy
American actor
- Eric Kyle SzmandaBoy
American actor
- Eric Henry LiddellBoy
Scottish athlete
- Eric HobsbawmBoy
English historian
- Eric StoltzBoy
American actor, director and producer
- Eric HosmerBoy
American baseball player
- Eric KripkeBoy
American television writer, director and producer
- Eric RobertsBoy
American actor
- Eric MeyersBoy
voice actor
- Eric IdleBoy
British comedian and actor
- Eric StoughBoy
American animation director, producer and voice actor
- Eric Cowell (b. 2014)Boy
son of English TV and music producer Simon Cowell
- Eric RichardBoy
English actor ('The Bill', British television series)
- Eric FaulknerBoy
Scottish musician
- Eric TrumpBoy
son of President Donald Trump
Eric in pop culture
- Eric NorthmanBoy
character on TV's "True Blood"
- Eric FinchBoy
character in "V for Vendetta"
- Eric JacksonBoy
character in "The 100"
- EricBoy
prince in Disney's "The Little Mermaid"
- Eric FormanBoy
character on TV's "That '70s Show"
- Eric ForemanBoy
character on TV's "House"
- Eric MatthewsBoy
character on TV's "Boy Meets World"
- Erik NightBoy
character on TV's "House of Night"
- Eric Van Der WoodsenBoy
Serena's brother on TV's "Gossip Girl"
- Eric DelkoBoy
character on TV's "CSI: Miami"
- Eric TaylorBoy
a main character on TV's "Friday Night Lights"
- Eric CartmanBoy
character on animated series "South Park"
- Eric Brooks aka BladeBoy
character in Marvel comics/films
- Eric "Cat" ChantBoy
main character in "Charmed Life"
- Eric WeissBoy
character on TV's "Alias"
- Eric Bartholomew Beale IIIBoy
character on TV's "NCIS: Los Angeles"
- Eric ShellhornBoy
character in Jenny Nimmo's "The Children of the Red King" series
- Eric Richard "Bitty" BittleBoy
character in webcomic "Check, Please!"
- Eric BirlingBoy
character in An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley
- EricBoy
character in Aphmau's YouTube series
- Prince EricBoy
character in animated movie "Barbie in the Nutcracker"
- EricBoy
character in animated movie "Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus"
- Eric LassardBoy
character in the "Police Academy" Film series