Eric is a male given name of Scandinavian origin, derived from the Old Norse name Eiríkr. The name is composed of two elements: 'ei' meaning 'always', and 'ríkr' meaning 'powerful'. Therefore, Eric translates to "eternally powerful" or "forever powerful".
The name Eric first appeared in historical records during the Viking Age, with notable bearers including Eric the Red (Eiríkr Rauðæsson), a Norse explorer who discovered Greenland around 982 AD. His son, Leif Erikson, is believed to have been the first European to reach North America around the year 1000.
Over time, the name Eric has become popular in various cultures and countries beyond its Scandinavian roots. Today, it ranks among the top male names worldwide, including in countries such as Sweden, Denmark, Norway, France, Belgium, Canada, and the United States.
Throughout history, numerous notable individuals have borne the name Eric, contributing to its enduring popularity. Some well-known figures include:
* Eric XIV of Sweden (1533-1577), king of Sweden from 1560 until his deposition in 1568
* Eric IX of Denmark (1216-1250), king of Denmark from 1249 until his death
* Eric the Victorious (Eiríkr inn sigrsæli, c. 945-c. 995), a Norwegian chieftain and Viking leader who ruled over parts of Norway during the late 10th century
In literature and arts, Eric has been used as a character name in several works, such as:
* "Eric, or Little by Little" (1858), an novel for children by Neil Douglas
* "The Story of Eric Brighteyes" (1911), a historical adventure novel by H. Rider Haggard set during the Viking Age
* "Eric the Red" (1947), a ballet composed by Khachaturian with libretto written by V. Alexeyev
Overall, the name Eric carries a rich history and cultural significance, having been popularized by notable historical figures and prominent characters in literature and arts throughout centuries.
Based on the statistics provided, we can see that the name Eric has had varying levels of popularity over time in the United States.
From 1880 to around 1957, the number of births with the name Eric was relatively low and steady, ranging from a low of 10 births in 1880 to a high of 6619 births in 1957. However, starting in 1958, there was a significant increase in the popularity of the name Eric.
Between 1958 and 2023, the number of births with the name Eric reached its peak in 1964 with 16831 births. This marked the beginning of a period of high popularity for the name Eric, which continued until around 1976 when the number of births began to decrease.
Since then, the popularity of the name Eric has fluctuated but has generally been on a downward trend. In recent years, the number of births with the name Eric has fallen significantly, reaching an all-time low in 2023 with only 1541 births reported.
Overall, while the name Eric was once quite popular in the United States, it appears that its popularity has waned in recent decades. Despite this decline, there have still been a total of 886209 births with the name Eric in the United States since 1880.