Everything about the name ERIK

Meaning, origin, history

Erik is a Scandinavian name of Old Norse origin, derived from the Old Norse elements "Einric," which means "eternally powerful" or "always mighty." The name consists of two parts: "ei," meaning "one" or "alone," and "riekr," meaning "powerful" or "mighty."

The name Erik has a rich history in Scandinavian folklore and mythology. It was borne by several notable figures in Norse history and legend, including Erik the Red, the Viking explorer who discovered Greenland around 982 AD, and Erik XIV of Sweden, a king who ruled from 1560 to 1568.

Erik is also a popular name among royalty. Apart from Erik XIV of Sweden, there was also Erik VII of Denmark (1412-1442) and Erik XV of Norway (1893-1957). In addition, Saint Erik (Erik IX of Sweden) was canonized as a martyr by the Catholic Church in 1164.

Today, Erik remains a popular choice for parents naming their sons across Scandinavia and beyond. It is considered a strong, powerful name that has stood the test of time, with its roots deeply ingrained in Scandinavian history and culture.

Popularity of the name ERIK since 1880

Birth evolution

Popularity analysis

The given statistics show the annual number of births with the name Erik in the United States from 1964 to 2008. Over this period of time, there was a fluctuation in the popularity of the name Erik.

In the early years, from 1964 to 1969, the name Erik was relatively uncommon, with fewer than 20 births each year. However, starting from 1970, we see an increase in its popularity, with over 15 births each year until 1986.

The peak of popularity for the name Erik occurred in 1980, with a total of 41 births that year. This indicates that during this time period, many parents chose to name their sons Erik.

After 1986, the popularity of the name Erik began to decline gradually. There were fewer than 25 births each year from 1987 to 1996. The lowest point was reached in 1996 and 1997, with only 5 births each year.

However, despite this decrease in popularity, the name Erik still had some presence in the early 2000s. There were at least 5 births each year from 2000 to 2008, with a slight increase reaching 10 births in 2000 and 7 births in both 2007 and 2008.

In total, over the period of 45 years, there were 666 babies named Erik in the United States. This statistic provides insights into the trends of naming a child Erik during this timeframe.