Errol Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Errol is a name of Scottish origin, meaning 'a place near the sea.' It has evolved from Old Gaelic to modern English forms. The name is associated with traits of creativity and individuality, and it has no biblical relevance. It gained popularity in the 19th century and remains unique in contemporary usage.
The name Errol is most popular in Louisiana, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent Generation generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Errol has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Errol' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1917th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 577th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 662nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 771st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1153rd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2891st out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4519th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Errol' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Errol"
Pronunciation
/ˈɛr.əl/
Origin
Scottish
Etymology
The name Errol is derived from a Scottish place name, which is thought to originate from the Gaelic word 'earal,' meaning 'a place near the sea.'
Meaning
a place near the sea
Language Evolution
Old Gaelic: earal, Middle Scottish: Errol, Modern English: Errol
Historical Usage
The name Errol gained popularity in the 19th century, particularly in Scotland, and has been used in various literary works and films.
Variants & Derivatives
Errolian, Erol, Errolson
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, the name Errol is perceived as unique and carries a vintage charm, often associated with creativity and individuality.
Famous People
Errol Flynn (actor), Errol Morris (documentary filmmaker), Errol Brown (singer)
Explore More Errol Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Errol"
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 "Errol"
"Errol" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1917th of 7545 | 269 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 577th of 6773 | 1,936 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 662nd of 7552 | 2,450 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 771st of 10718 | 1,805 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1153rd of 16616 | 1,297 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 2891st of 24088 | 579 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 4519th of 23106 | 266 |
Regional Popularity of "Errol" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
28.20% 436th/1546 |
33.35% 519th/1556 |
30.26% 712th/2353 |
28.57% 442nd/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
30.18% 672nd/2227 |
23.70% 576th/2430 |
23.27% 664th/2853 |
24.94% 692nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
27.95% 821st/2937 |
17.28% 602nd/3483 |
21.12% 743rd/3518 |
21.24% 859th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
47.19% 1739th/3685 |
17.41% 779th/4475 |
22.49% 1168th/5194 |
22.18% 1401st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
37.06% 1914th/5164 |
37.24% 2723rd/7313 |
49.69% 3708th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
57.64% 3932nd/6822 |
63.67% 3996th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Errol" by Generation for Female 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) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Errol"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Errol" 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.