Find out how popular the first name Erik has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Erik by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Erik is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Erik being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 675 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Erik.

The history of the first name Erik

Erik is a traditionally Scandinavian name, derived from the Old Norse words "ari" meaning "warrior" and "rik" meaning "ruler" or "wealthy." The name is believed to have originated in the Viking Age, which spanned from the late 8th century to the late 11th century. It was a popular name among the Norse people who inhabited modern-day Sweden, Norway, Denmark, and Iceland.

The name Erik is first recorded in the 9th century Ynglinga saga, an Old Norse prose work that details the legendary rulers of Sweden. One of the earliest documented individuals with the name was Erik Anundsson, a semi-legendary Swedish king who ruled in the 7th century.

In the 11th century, Erik the Victorious was a Swedish king who played a significant role in consolidating the Swedish kingdom and promoting Christianity. He was born around 945 AD and ruled from 970 to 995 AD.

Another notable Erik was Erik the Red, the famous Norse explorer who is credited with founding the first European settlement in Greenland around 985 AD. He was born in Norway around 950 AD and later settled in Iceland before his explorations in Greenland.

In the 12th century, Erik Jedvardsson was a Swedish king who ruled from 1156 to 1167 AD. He is known for his efforts to strengthen the power of the Swedish monarchy and his involvement in the ongoing conflicts between the Church and the monarchy.

Erik XIV was a 16th-century Swedish king who reigned from 1560 to 1568 AD. He is known for his efforts to promote the Reformation in Sweden and his tragic downfall, which led to his imprisonment and eventual death in 1577.

These are just a few examples of notable historical figures who bore the name Erik. Throughout the centuries, the name has remained popular in Scandinavian countries and has also gained popularity in other parts of the world due to its strong historical and cultural associations.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Erik was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Erik, please contact us.

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