Eric
Say it: ERR-ik/ˈɛɹɪk/
BoyMeans usually explained as "ever ruler"4 letters2 syllables
#211
in Ireland (2025)
#210 with spellings combined
22
babies in 2025
#62
best rank (1996)
3,621
babies since 1964
Down 82
10-year rank change
Eric through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22 | #210 |
| 2024 | 46 | #122 |
| 2023 | 40 | #140 |
| 2022 | 45 | #133 |
| 2021 | 28 | #186 |
| 2020 | 35 | #157 |
| 2019 | 52 | #125 |
| 2018 | 44 | #140 |
| 2017 | 44 | #141 |
| 2016 | 46 | #142 |
| 2015 | 51 | #128 |
| 2014 | 47 | #136 |
| 2013 | 48 | #131 |
| 2012 | 61 | #116 |
| 2011 | 49 | #143 |
| 2010 | 58 | #132 |
| 2009 | 51 | #137 |
| 2008 | 41 | #159 |
| 2007 | 46 | #139 |
| 2006 | 38 | #141 |
| 2005 | 56 | #103 |
| 2004 | 58 | #103 |
| 2003 | 40 | #120 |
| 2002 | 59 | #92 |
| 2001 | 45 | #107 |
| 2000 | 54 | #94 |
| 1999 | 55 | #90 |
| 1998 | 66 | #75 |
| 1997 | 95 | #77 |
| 1996 | 114 | #62 |
| 1995 | 105 | #68 |
| 1994 | 81 | #75 |
| 1993 | 76 | #81 |
| 1992 | 60 | #95 |
| 1991 | 67 | #88 |
| 1990 | 72 | #86 |
| 1989 | 53 | #96 |
| 1988 | 75 | #81 |
| 1987 | 66 | #88 |
| 1986 | 83 | #81 |
| 1985 | 62 | #92 |
| 1984 | 63 | #91 |
| 1983 | 76 | #82 |
| 1982 | 73 | #87 |
| 1981 | 66 | #94 |
| 1980 | 73 | #90 |
| 1979 | 80 | #87 |
| 1978 | 68 | #97 |
| 1977 | 66 | #103 |
| 1976 | 86 | #82 |
| 1975 | 65 | #98 |
| 1974 | 70 | #96 |
| 1973 | 84 | #90 |
| 1972 | 69 | #94 |
| 1971 | 55 | #102 |
| 1970 | 58 | #93 |
| 1969 | 41 | #101 |
| 1968 | 43 | #92 |
| 1967 | 40 | #96 |
| 1966 | 41 | #95 |
| 1965 | 36 | #98 |
| 1964 | 34 | #94 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Eric mean?
Usually explained as "ever ruler"
Old Norse Eiríkr, probably from ei (always) and ríkr (ruler).
Say it right
ERRik
The story of Eric
Eric goes back to the Old Norse Eiríkr. It is most often explained as “ever ruler”, from ei (always) and ríkr (ruler), though other readings of the first part have been suggested. The name was known in Anglo-Saxon England and was strengthened by Scandinavian settlers before the Norman Conquest. Erik, Erich and the feminine Erica belong to the same family.
The Victorian writer Frederic Farrar made it the title of his 1859 school story, Eric, or Little by Little.
Eric has been given in Ireland throughout the CSO records. It came late to its high point for such an old name: it peaked in 1996, with 114 boys, when it reached number 62. It has always been rarer in Northern Ireland, where its best place was number 169 in 2020.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Eric (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Eric
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Eric | 22 | 3,621 |
In Northern Ireland
#270 in 2025 with 6 babies. Best rank #169 (2020); 137 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.