Boy · Old Norse · Christian · International
Eric
EricSay it ERR-ik
- Meaning today
- Eternal ruler, ever ruler
- Original meaning
- "honoured ruler; Old Norse Eiríkr" Online Etymology Dictionary, s.v. Eric
- Say it
- ERR-ik
- Other spellings
- Erik, Erick
Eric
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Eric meaning
Eric is a Christian and international boy's name of Old Norse origin.
Meaning today
Eternal ruler, ever ruler
Original Old Norse meaning
"honoured ruler; Old Norse Eiríkr"
Source: Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com), s.v. Eric · entry Eric · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
Eric comes from the Old Norse name Eiríkr. Everyone agrees that the second part, ríkr, means 'ruler', related to Latin rex and Sanskrit rāj. The first part is less certain: Etymonline takes it from a Germanic word for 'honour', giving 'honoured ruler', while others read it as 'ever', giving the popular 'eternal ruler', or as 'one', giving 'sole ruler'. The name was carried by Scandinavian kings, including St Eric of Sweden. In India it is used by Christian families in Kerala, Mangalore and the Northeast.
References: Online Etymology Dictionary, Eric · Wikipedia, Eric
Famous namesakes
- St Eric IX of Sweden, 12th-century king
Popularity abroad
- #273 United States, boys 2025 (down 21 from 252 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration - #168 England and Wales, boys 2025
Office for National Statistics
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Eric · Erik · Erick