What Does the Name Eric Mean?

Eric is a boy's name of Old Norse origin meaning “ever-ruler, eternal ruler.”

Updated June 2026

Name	Eric
Gender	male
Origin	Old Norse
Meaning	ever-ruler, eternal ruler
Variants	Erik, Erich, Erico, Eirik, Aric
Popularity	A US top-40 name from the 1960s through the 1990s; it remains in common, though declining, use.

The meaning and origin of Eric

The name Eric means “ever-ruler, eternal ruler” and has Old Norse origins. From the Old Norse name Eirikr, combining elements meaning 'ever' or 'alone' with 'ruler,' giving the sense of 'eternal ruler.' Brought to England by Scandinavian settlers, it was revived in the 19th century and became very popular in the 20th.

Variants and related names

Eric is related to several other names you may recognize: Erik, Erich, Erico, Eirik, Aric. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.

How popular is the name Eric?

A US top-40 name from the 1960s through the 1990s; it remains in common, though declining, use.

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