Erica Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Erica originates from Latin and is linked to the heather plant. It has evolved from the Old Norse name Eiríkr, meaning 'eternal ruler'. The name signifies strength and beauty, with no biblical relevance. It became popular in the English-speaking world in the 19th century and retains a modern appeal.
The name Erica is most popular in Delaware, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been gradually declining. From 2020-2022, Erica has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, falling for female in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, falling for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too rising for female in South, stalled for male in West, falling for female in West. Across generations, 'Erica' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2097th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1783rd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 13195th out of 24088 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 4839th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2113th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 667th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 89th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 37th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 173rd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 918th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Erica' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Erica"
Pronunciation
/ˈɛrɪkə/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The name Erica is derived from the Latin word 'erica', which refers to the heather plant. It is also associated with the Old Norse name 'Eiríkr', meaning 'eternal ruler' or 'ever-ruler'.
Meaning
Heather, ruler
Language Evolution
Eiríkr (Old Norse), Erica (Latin), Erika (Modern Scandinavian), Erika (Modern English)
Historical Usage
Erica gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 19th century, especially in Scandinavia and among those influenced by Scandinavian culture.
Variants & Derivatives
Erika, Eryka, Rica
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Erica is perceived as a classic yet modern name, often associated with strength and femininity.
Famous People
Erica Jong, American author, Erica Campbell, American singer, Erica Durance, Canadian actress
Explore More Erica Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Erica"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Erica"
"Erica" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2097th of 10718 | 319 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1783rd of 16616 | 660 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 13195th of 24088 | 45 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 4839th of 9107 | 57 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 2113th of 9204 | 293 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 667th of 12526 | 3,917 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 89th of 19264 | 62,641 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 37th of 27321 | 129,386 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 173rd of 35406 | 31,629 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 918th of 30306 | 3,538 |
Regional Popularity of "Erica" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
63.82% 2223rd/3483 |
64.38% 2265th/3518 |
39.22% 1586th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
59.78% 2203rd/3685 |
51.26% 2294th/4475 |
34.67% 1801st/5194 |
23.78% 1502nd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
65.06% 4758th/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Erica" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
94.27% 1300th/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
50.77% 790th/1556 |
- |
82.93% 1283rd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
34.13% 760th/2227 |
18.85% 458th/2430 |
29.23% 834th/2853 |
21.33% 592nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
3.47% 102nd/2937 |
2.53% 88th/3483 |
2.33% 82nd/3518 |
2.15% 87th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
1.19% 44th/3685 |
0.85% 38th/4475 |
0.64% 33rd/5194 |
0.62% 39th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
3.73% 171st/4582 |
2.83% 146th/5164 |
2.26% 165th/7313 |
2.75% 205th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
23.77% 947th/3984 |
19.01% 853rd/4487 |
13.25% 904th/6822 |
15.41% 967th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Erica"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Erica" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.