The male given names Eric, Erich, Erikk, Erik, Erick, Eirik, or Eiríkur are derived from the Old Norse name Eiríkr (or Eríkr in Old East Norse due to monophthongization).
The first element, ei- may be derived from the older Proto-Norse *aina(z), meaning "one, alone, unique",Entries "Æiríkʀ", "Æi-", in: Nordiskt runnamnslexikon (2002) by Lena Peterson at the Swedish Institute for Linguistics and Heritage (Institutet för språk och folkminnen). Entry "EIN" at Nordic Names. Retrieved 19 June 2017. as in the form Æ∆inrikr explicitly, but it could also be from *aiwa(z) "everlasting, eternity",Entry "Erik" at Nordic Names Wiki. Retrieved 1 February 2013. as in the Gothic form Euric.T. Perrenot, La toponymie burgonde, Payot, 1942, p. 211. The second element -ríkr stems either from Proto-Germanic *ríks "king, ruler" (cf. Gothic reiks) or the therefrom derived *ríkijaz "kingly, powerful, rich, prince"; from the common Proto-Indo-European root *h₃rḗǵs.Entries "Æiríkʀ", "Ríkʀ" and "-ríkʀ" in Nordiskt runnamnslexikon (2002) by Lena Peterson at the Swedish Institute for Linguistics and Heritage (Institutet för språk och folkminnen). The name is thus usually taken to mean "sole ruler, autocrat" or "eternal ruler, ever powerful". Eric used in the sense of a proper noun meaning "one ruler" may be the origin of Eriksgata, and if so it would have meant "one ruler's journey".Swedish etymological dictionary, by Elof Hellquist (1922), p. 121 The tour was the medieval Swedish king's journey, when newly elected, to seek the acceptance of peripheral provinces.
Eric is one of the most commonly used Germanic names in the United States, along with Robert, William, Edward and others.
The most common spelling across Fennoscandia and in the Netherlands is Erik. In Norway, another form of the name (which has kept the Old Norse diphthong) Eirik () is also commonly used.In November 2008, there were 20,000 men named Erik in Norway (appr. 0.9% of the male pop.) and 13,000 named Eirik (0.8%). Source: Statistics Norway, http://www.ssb.no/navn/) The modern Icelandic version is Eiríkur (),Behind The NameEtymology OnlineUnited States Social Security Database while the modern Faroese version is Eirikur.
In Estonia and Finland (where Swedish remains an official minority language), the standard Nordic name form Erik is found, but it may also be spelled phonetically as Eerik (), in accordance with Finnic language orthography, along with a slew of other unique Balto-Finnic variant forms including Eerikki, Eero, Erki and Erkki.Eerik, Nordic NamesEerik, behindthename.comEero, babynamespedia.comEerikki, babynamespedia.com
Although the name was in use in Anglo-Saxon England, its use was reinforced by Scandinavian settlers arriving before the Norman conquest of England. It was an uncommon name in England until the Middle Ages, when it gained popularity, and finally became a common name in the 19th century. This was partly because of the publishing of the novel Eric, or, Little by Little by Frederic Farrar in 1858.
The Latin form of the name is Euricus or Erīcus (), which was also adopted into Old Swedish usage (for example, cf. 15th century Kalmar Swedish historian Ericus Olai).Ericus, Nordic Names Whence come the Greek forms Ερίκος (Eríkos) or Ερρίκος (Erríkos) (both ), in addition to the direct Nordic borrowing Έρικ (Érik).Έρικ, names-n-gifts (in Greek)Ερρίκος, names-n-gifts (in Greek)
Éric () is used in French, Erico in Italian, Érico in Portuguese. (Note some phonetically simplified modern forms may be conflated with descendants of cognate name Henry via Henrīcus, Henrik, from Proto-Germanic Haimarīks, sharing the stem *rīks.)
Among Slavic languages, most using the Latin alphabet borrow Erik, but there also exists Polish Eryk. The name is adapted into Cyrillic as Russian Э́йрик (Éyrik) or Э́рик (Érik), and Ukrainian Е́рік (Érik). The Baltic languages use forms such as Latvian Ēriks and Lithuanian Erikas.Eryk, behindthename.comĒriks, behindthename.comErikas, behindthename.com Meanwhile in Kazakhstan, Ерік (Erik) is used.
And in Germany, Eric, Erik and Erich are used.Gesellschaft für deutsche Sprache (GfdS): Beliebteste Vornamen. Gfds.de. Retrieved 1 February 2013. In South America, the most common spelling is Erick.
In Norway, Sweden and Finland, the name day for derivations of Erik and Eirik is 18 May, commemorating the death of Saint King Eric IX of Sweden, founder of the royal House of Eric.
The feminine derivative is Erica or Erika.
Royalty
Danish Eric I of Denmark, king of Denmark between 1095 and 1103 Eric II of Denmark, king of Denmark between 1134 and 1137 Eric III of Denmark, king of Denmark from 1137 until he abdicated in 1146 Eric IV of Denmark, king of Denmark from 1241 until his murder in 1250 Eric V of Denmark, son of Christopher I, reigned from 1259 to his murder in 1286 Eric VI of Denmark, firstborn son of Eric V, reigned from 1286 to 1319 Eric of Pomerania, ruler of the Kalmar Union between 1396 and 1439
Norwegian Eric I of Norway (Eric Bloodaxe), the second king of Norway Eric II of Norway, the king of Norway from 1280 until 1299 Erik of Pomerania, ruler of the Kalmar Union between 1396 and 1439 Eiríkr Hákonarson, earl of Lade, ruler of Norway and earl of Northumbria Erik the Red, the son of Þorvaldr Ásvaldsson
Swedish Alaric and Eric, two legendary kings of Sweden Jorund and Eirik, two legendary kings of Sweden Erik Björnsson, one of the sons of Björn Ironside Erik Refilsson, Swedish legendary king Eric Anundsson, Swedish legendary king who ruled during the 9th century, may be the same as Erik Weatherhat, a more or less mythical Swedish king Eric the Victorious, king of the Swedes during the second half of the 10th century Eric and Eric, two pretenders around 1066 Erik Jedvarsson, Swedish king between 1150 and 1160, venerated as a saint Erik Knutsson, King of Sweden between 1208 and 1216 Erik Eriksson, King of Sweden in 1222–1229 and 1234–1250 Erik Magnusson, rival king of Sweden to his father Magnus Eriksson from 1356 to his death in 1359 Erik of Pomerania, ruler of the Kalmar Union between 1396 and 1439 Eric XIV of Sweden, King of Sweden from 1560 until he was deposed in 1568
Given name
A–E Erik (wrestler), stage name for American professional wrestler Raymond Rowe Sr. (born 1984) Erik Aadahl (born 1976), American sound editor Erik Aaes (1899–1966), Danish set designer and art director Eric Abidal (born 1979), French former professional footballer Eric Adams, American politician and retired police officer Erich Carl Hugo Adamson (1902–1968), Estonian artist Eric the Actor, television actor, radio personality Eric Adjetey Anang, Ghanaian artist Eric Adler (born 2000), American baseball player Erik Affholter (born 1966), American football player Erik Agard, American crossword solver, constructor, and editor Eric Aho (born 1966), American painter Eric Albronda (1945–2024), American musician Eric Allen (born 1965), American football coach Erick Allen (born 1975), Georgia House of Representatives former member Eric Alterman (born 1960), American historian, journalist, author, media critic, blogger, and educator Eric Ambler (1909–1998), English writer of thrillers and spy novels Eric Andersen (born 1943), American singer-songwriter Erik Andersen (disambiguation), several people Erik Andersson (disambiguation), several people Eric Andersen (artist) (born 1940), Danish artist Eric Anderson (disambiguation), multiple people Eric André, American comedian Eric Andrews (1933–2001), Australian historian, academic and author Eric Angle (born 1967), American former amateur and professional wrestler Eric Arndt (born 1986), American professional wrestler Eric Appel (born 1980), American filmmaker Eric Ash (1928–2021), British electrical engineer Eric Arnold, American journalist and author Eric Arnold (footballer) (1922–2002), English footballer Eric J. Arnould, anthropologist and author Eric Ayala (born 1999), Puerto Rican basketball player Eric Bana (born 1968), Australian actor Eric Banks (American football) (born 1998), American football player Eric Wollencott Barnes (1907–1962), American educator, diplomat, actor, and writer Eric Bauman, eBaum's World founder Eric Bauza (born 1979), American voice actor Eric Bazilian (born 1953), American singer, songwriter, arranger and producer, member of The Hooters Erich Beer (born 1946), German footballer Eric Beishline, American convicted murderer Eric Bell (disambiguation), several people Eric Bellinger (born 1984), American singer and songwriter Eric Bentley (1916–2020), British-born American theater critic, playwright, singer, editor, and translator Eric Benét (born 1966), American singer-songwriter and actor Eric Bercovici (1933–2014), American television and film producer and screenwriter Eric Berry American football player; Kansas City Chiefs strong safety Eric Berry (actor) (1913–1993), British stage and film actor Erick Berry (1892–1974), American writer, illustrator and editor Eric Bieniemy (born 1969), American football player and coach Eric Bischoff (born 1955), American television producer, professional wrestling booker, and performer Eric Marlon Bishop, American actor and musician known by the stage name Jamie Foxx Eric Arthur Blair, English author known by his pen-name George Orwell Eric Blore, English character actor Eric Boe (born 1964), United States Air Force fighter pilot Colonel, test pilot, a Civil Air Patrol member, and a NASA astronaut Eirik Glambek Bøe, Norwegian musician Eric Bolling (born 1963), American news commentator Erik Gustaf Boström (1842–1907), Swedish landowner and politician Erik Botheim (born 2000), Norwegian footballer Erik Bottcher (born 1979), American politician Eric Boulter (born 1952), Australian swimmer, athlete, and wheelchair basketball player Erik Bulatov (1933–2025), Russian artist Eric Butorac (born 1981), American tennis player Eric Davin (born 1947), American historian Eric DeWayne Boyd (born 1972), American criminal convicted of the kidnapping, rape and murders of Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom Eric L. Boyd, American software engineer Erik Brahe (1722–1756), Swedish count executed for treason Erik Brahe (1552–1614), Swedish governor, councilor and count of Visingsborg Erich Brandenberger, German general in the Wehrmacht of Nazi Germany during World War II Erik Brann (1950–2003), American singer and guitarist known for Iron Butterfly Eric R. Braverman (born 1957), American physician Eric Braeden (born 1941), German-born film and television actor Erich Brenter (1941–2024), Austrian skibobber Eric Brodkowitz, Israeli-American baseball pitcher for the Israel national baseball team Eric "Nick" Bravin (born 1971), American Olympic fencer Erik Breukink, Dutch racing cyclist Eric Brewer (ice hockey), Canadian ice hockey player Eric Bruskotter, American actor Erik Bryggman (1891–1955), Finnish architect Eric Burdon, English vocalist, songwriter and frontman of The Animals Erick Cabaco, Uruguayan footballer Eric Campbell (disambiguation), several people Erik Campbell (born 1966), American gridiron football coach and former player Eric Cantona (born 1966), French footballer Eric Cantor, American politician Érik Canuel (born 1961), Canadian film director and actor Eric Carle, children's author Eric Carmen (1949–2024), American singer and musician Erik Carrasco, Chilean basketball player Erick Castillo, Ecuadorian footballer Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Cameroonian footballer Eric Church, American country music singer and songwriter Eric Clapton (born 1945), English guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter Eric Clay (1922–2007), British rugby league referee Eric L. Clay (born 1948), United States circuit judge Eric Cobham (c. 1700 – 1760?), British pirate whose existence is disputed Erick Brian Colón, singer, member of CNCO Erich Consemüller, German Bauhaus-trained architect and photographer Erik Cornell (1930–2024), Swedish diplomat Eric "Bobo" Correa (born 1968), American percussionist