How to say it
ER · ic
ˈɛr.ɪk
Masculine
Eric
Ever-ruler
What it means
From the Old Norse Eiríkr, ei ('ever, always') plus ríkr ('ruler'), so 'eternal ruler' or 'sole ruler.'
Eric comes from the Old Norse Eiríkr, 'ever-ruler.' Erik the Red founded Norse Greenland and his son Leif Erikson reached North America around the year 1000, which makes it a name with real Viking pedigree. It has been a Scandinavian royal staple for centuries and was a fixture of American birth certificates from the 1950s through the 1980s. Eric and Erik are the same name; Rick sometimes serves as a short.
How to spell Eric
The standard spelling is Eric. Common variants include Erik, Erick, Eirik, but Eric is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #13 in 1973, currently #273 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Eric, Erik, and Erick are interchangeable; Erik points a little harder at the Scandinavian root.
- Pop culture
From Erik the Red and Leif Erikson to Eric Clapton and The Little Mermaid's Prince Eric.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Erik the Red Norse explorer who founded a settlement in Greenland
- Eric Clapton English rock and blues guitarist
Spelling variants
- Erik
- Erick
- Eirik
Names with the same feeling
See Eric from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Eric mean?
- From the Old Norse Eiríkr, ei ('ever, always') plus ríkr ('ruler'), so 'eternal ruler' or 'sole ruler.'
- What does Eric mean in Old Norse?
- In Old Norse, Eric means "Ever-ruler." Eric comes from the Old Norse Eiríkr, 'ever-ruler.' Erik the Red founded Norse Greenland and his son Leif Erikson reached North America around the year 1000, which makes it a name with real Viking pedigree. It has been a Scandinavian royal staple for centuries and was a fixture of American birth certificates from the 1950s through the 1980s. Eric and Erik are the same name; Rick sometimes serves as a short.
- How do you pronounce Eric?
- Eric is pronounced ˈɛr.ɪk. Say it as ER-ic, with the stress on the "er" syllable.
- How do you spell Eric?
- The standard spelling is Eric. Common spelling variants include Erik, Erick, Eirik.
- Is Eric a boy or girl name?
- Eric is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Eric?
- Eric ranked #273 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.