Everything about the name ERIC
Meaning, origin, history
The name Eric has been popular throughout history, with several notable figures carrying it. One of the most famous bearers is Saint Eric, also known as Eric IX of Sweden, who was a king in the 12th century and is venerated as a saint by the Eastern Orthodox Church. His reputation for generosity and kindness contributed to his sainthood.
Another significant figure named Eric is Eric the Red, a Norse explorer from Iceland who was exiled from his home country around the year 980 AD. He subsequently discovered and colonized Greenland, paving the way for further exploration of North America by his son, Leif Erikson.
Throughout time, the name Eric has been embraced in various languages and cultures. It is used widely today, ranking among the top 500 names for boys in several countries such as the United States, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, France, Germany, and Australia.
In popular culture, the name Eric has appeared prominently in numerous works of literature, music, film, and television. Some examples include the character Eric Cartman from the animated series South Park, Eric Draven from The Crow movie franchise, and various musical compositions like "Eric the Red" by metal band Manowar and "Eric's Trip" by Canadian indie rock band Sonic Youth.
In conclusion, Eric is an ancient Scandinavian name with a rich history, meaningful origin, and enduring popularity across cultures. Its fame has been further enhanced by notable figures and prominent appearances in popular culture.
Popularity of the name ERIC since 1880
Birth evolution
Popularity analysis
The name Eric has been quite popular in the United States over the past century, with a significant peak during the late 1960s and early 1970s. In fact, the name reached its zenith in popularity in 1978 when it was given to 150 newborn babies.
Looking at the statistics, we can see that from the 1940s up until the late 1960s, the number of births with the name Eric varied between 5 and 9 per year. However, in 1967, there was a notable increase to 90 births, which marked the beginning of an upward trend that would continue for over two decades.
From 1968 onwards, the popularity of the name Eric grew steadily, reaching a peak in 1978 with 150 births. This high level of popularity was maintained throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s, with around 140 to 160 babies named Eric each year.
However, towards the end of the 20th century, we can observe a decline in the number of newborns given the name Eric. In fact, from 1990 onwards, the number of births with this name fell drastically, dropping below 30 per year by the late 1990s.
This downward trend continued into the early 2000s and beyond, with fewer than ten babies being named Eric each year since 2005. The most recent data from 2014 to 2016 shows that only five babies were given this name annually in the United States during these years.
In conclusion, while the name Eric was quite popular in the United States for several decades, its popularity has waned significantly over time. With a total of 4293 births recorded since 1942, it is clear that Eric remains a name with historical significance and a unique story behind its rise and fall in popularity.