The story behind Eric
From Middle English Eric, from Old English Eoric, from Old Norse Eirríkr, Eiríkr (from ei (“always, eternal”, see aye) + ríkr (“ruler”)), or from Proto-Germanic *Aizarīkijaz (from *aizō (“honor”) + *rīkijaz (“ruler”)). Less likely from einn (“sole, alone”) + ríkr (“ruler”), from Proto-Germanic *rīks (“king”, cognate to Latin rēx and Gaulish *rīx). The name was in use in Anglo-Saxon Britain, reinforced by Scandinavian settlers before the Norman Conquest. Compare Danish Erik, German Erich. Possible doublet of Euric.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈɛɹɪk/
Popularity
Eric ranked #273 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Eric
Emma
Brought to England by the Normans; short form of compound given names beginning with a Frankish prototheme Ermin- or Irmin- "entire", from Proto-Germanic *ermunaz. From German…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Erma
A female given name from the Germanic languages, of rare usage, variant of Irma.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Ulric
From Old High German uodil (“heritage, homestead”) + rihhi (“ruler”); compare German Ulrich. English sources also suggest Old English wulf (“wolf”) + ric (“ruler”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends C
- same syllable count
- similar length
Edric
From Old English Ēadrīc, from Proto-West Germanic *Audarīk, from Proto-Germanic *Audarīks, from *audaz (“wealth, riches”) + *rīks (“king, ruler”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends C
- same syllable count
- similar length
Euric
From Latin Eurichus or Spanish Eurico, both ultimately from Gothic *𐌰𐌹𐍅𐌰𐍂𐌴𐌹𐌺𐍃 (*aiwareiks). Possible doublet of Eric and Erik.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends C
- same syllable count
- similar length
Edlyn
A 20th-century coinage, apparently a blend of Ed + Lyn, or a variant of Edeline. Borrowed from English Edlyn, from a 20th-century coinage, apparently a blend of Ed + Lyn.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Eric
Bo
Either borrowed from modern Danish Bo or Swedish Bo, or a spelling variant of the male given name Beau. From Old Norse Búi (“dweller, long-time resident”), originally a…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends O
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Guy
From Old French Gui, from a Frankish form of Proto-West Germanic *Widō (compare Old Dutch Wido), a short form of names beginning with the element *widu (“wood”), from…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends Y
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Kai
Taken into regular use in the 1990s, with earlier popularity peaks in Scandinavia and Germany. The medieval Danish Kaj is possibly of Roman origin, Latinized as Caius, like the…
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends I
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Eric
Ada
Short form of Germanic names beginning with adal (“noble”), such as Adelaide. Also Latinized form of Hebrew Adah. The programming language takes its name from Ada Lovelace. a…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Adel
Ultimately from Proto-Germanic *aþalaz. The female name is a rare variant of Adele. The surname is borrowed from German Adel. Variant of Adil, from Arabic عَادِل (ʕādil).
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection
Anne
From French Anne (“Ann”), from Late Latin Anna chiefly in reference to St Anne the apocryphal mother of Mary mother of Jesus but appearing in the Vulgate in reference to Anna…
- Gender
- mixed
- Syllables
- 1 syllable
- Ending
- ends E
- compatible short style
- shared origin connection