Name of the Day: Eric
Today’s choice just might be a modern classic.
Thanks to Photoquilty for suggesting Eric as Name of the Day.
First, I should note that Photoquilty actually requested Erik. Both spellings are valid – in fact the k spelling is probably closer to the original, the Old Norse Eiríkr. In the US Eric has trumped Erik consistently in the rankings, but if you’re of Scandinavian descent, Erik remains a valid heritage choice.
I’m tempted to group Eric with names like Zachary – they have plenty of history, and enough use that they cannot be considered trendy. But they’re not quite classics like William or John, either.
Eric has been a popular pick in recent years. He entered the Top 100 in 1950, peaked at #13 from 1973 to 1976 and remains in the Top 100 (at #83) today.
Erik peaked at #64 in 1980. Spellings Erich and Erick have also charted. ER’s Eriq La Salle appears to be the rare Eriq-with-a-q.
While all agree that Eiríkr is the original version of the name, there are competing schools of thought about the name’s meaning:
- Most link the name to the element ei – ever – and ríkr - ruler, which is usually translated as enduring ruler;
- Others suggest that the first part comes from ehre, a Germanic element meaning honorable;
- Lastly, some link the ei element to the word for sole or alone.
Whether he was an enduring, honorable or solo ruler, Eric was clearly in charge. The name was worn by two kings of Denmark, six Norwegian monarchs and at least a dozen kings of Sweden.
King Eric IX of Sweden also became a saint. He ruled in the 1100s and was responsible for converting his realm to Christianity.
The other famous early Eric is Erik the Red, the Norwegian explorer and father of Leif. He’s best known for exploring Greenland.
While the name has remained in use in Scandinavia, it was seldom heard in English until the publication of Eric, or Little by Little, Frederic W. Farrar’s 1858 story of a boy sent away to boarding school while his parents are stationed in India. Despite the fact that Eric ends badly, the book raised awareness of the name.
Modern Erics are legion. For starters, I’ll list:
- Ariel’s prince in The Little Mermaid, making Eric a Disney name;
- A very different animated Eric, usually called Cartman, on South Park;
- Early 20th century French composer Erik Satie;
- Monty Python comedian Eric Idle;
- Two television Erics wear similar last names – Topher Grace played Eric Forman on That ’70s Show; Omar Epps plays Dr. Eric Foreman on House;
- Then there’s guitar legend Eric Clapton. If he’s inspired some parents to name their daughters Layla, doubtless a few sons have worn his name, too.
Add in a handful of athletes, politicians and others and you can find a successful Eric in nearly any field of endeavor.
It’s also worth noting that Arthurian legends include a Sir Erec, a knight of the Round Table. However, I can’t find enough information about the origins of his name to conclude if he’s related to Eric, too. It’s probably one of the more awkward spelling options today.
Overall, Eric makes for a nice compromise. He’s never topped the charts, like Jason, so he doesn’t feel dated. He’s familiar, masculine without being aggressive, and wears well on a child or an adult.
If Eric has any shortfall, it is the lack of nickname options. But he’s quite appealing on his own.
Filed under: Explorer Names, Little Ruler, Music & Lyrics, Names for Boys, Names of the Day, Saints | 12 Comments
Tags: Erec, Eric, Erich, Erick, Erik, Eriq
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My husband is an Erik! I completely love it, and actually squeed when he told me his name (which earned me a reeeeally strange look!). I think it’s so handsome, and love how cool Erik looks over Eric. He said his dad chose the name off a box of cigars, and then suggested it to his mom, and she loved it. I think it’s a very powerful and dominant name, which doesn’t quite suit his personality, he’s so laid back, he’d make a better Alex or Sam. I would totally have a Erik Jr. if Erik wanted, but he doesn’t. We even threw around Erikson, but that’s not really our taste. Great name!
It took me a while to get used to Erik-with-a-K, but now that I’ve been with my husband for 10 years (we’ll be married 8 in April) it looks more “correct” than Eric. My in-laws chose the name and the spelling based on their heritage – they have a strong Swedish line. My husband was born in 1979, so it is totally in line with my in-laws’ attitude that the name was on its way out, popularity-wise, when they picked it. There aren’t many nicknames. My husband would never let me call him Err, but my grandfather did used to try to call him Ricky and Rick.
My (half-Swedish) father was an Eric, too! Which makes my baby brother Eric Jr. And, as it happened, my first serious crush was also an Eric.
So I have to say that I do truly adore the name.
Photoquilty, my mother did NOT want a junior and attempted to call my baby brother Ricky. But it didn’t stick.
I have several friends named Eric/Erik and thoroughly like the name without loving it. Probably because it’s completely normal and normal tends to go under both our collective radars for our own use. But it’s perfectly fine on the grownups we know!
I have yet to meet a little Eric/Erik. The youngest one I know of is 20 this year. I do like his lack of major nickname potential and it’s spiffy enough in sound. Eric Idle is my third favorite Python, behind John & Terry (Cleese & Jones) and my favorite of the bunch in drag (I think because he was the most feminine looking to me as a kid)!
Anyway, Eric is a lovely name, and one I wouldn’t mind seeing on a little one these days. A solid :thumbsup: for Eric/Erik!
I love Eric. My boyfriend is an Eric and we are thinking about using it as a middle name if we have a son. We both agreed that he wouldn’t be called Eric Jr. no matter how much we love the name. lol
I have a little seven-year-old Erik in my class this year. He’s named after his father, Erik Sr. No Swedish heritage for them — as far as I can tell, they’re 100% Mexican. But Erik has become mainstream enough to suit any ethnic background.
It is a very good name. Like Lola said, it’s not one I often think about because it just feels so *normal*. But it is strong, masculine, handsome, and rather friendly-sounding, so I can see why someone would choose it.
I have always had Eric on my Top 20 list. My dh has a son in his 20s named Derek. Had he and I been together at that point in our lives, he would have been Eric.
Eric is very sauve to me and very grown up. I have known some children called Eric’s friends children but it is a name passed down. Its almost hard for children to fill for me it just a very adult name
My brother’s name is Erich
He’s always hated his spelling though!! I don’t mind Eric – he’s forever 80s to me though, as my brother used to whine that his name was boring because there were so many Erics growing up in late 80s Australia, and seldom any Sophies or Juliets, and Ariel’s Prince (my sister was obsessed with the tale!) He’s strong and protective and yet rather suave too 
He’s not at all popular in Australia – well, not in my state at least. He doesn’t even chart in the Top 100.
To go along with Photoquilty, My Erik has never gone by Err or Rick/Ricky. I asked him the other day if he ever was called Ricky, and he said he didn’t even realize that it was a nickname option but he hated it. He actually used to think he didn’t suit an Erik, and went by Alex (his middle name is Alexander) for a short period of time in his 20’s. (I like his full name Erik Alexander, it means “Ever Powerful Defender of Men”…Awesome name meaning.
Wow, that’s weird. My father’s name is Erik Alexander. The same as chaneltara’s ‘erik’ !
Cool! Maybe it’s a common pairing. I do think the names were made to be together!