Erwin Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Erwin originates from Old High German, meaning 'honorable friend'. The name has evolved through various forms in the German language and is associated with loyalty and strength. It does not have a biblical relevance, but it has historical significance and has maintained popularity over the centuries.
The name Erwin is most popular in Wisconsin, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the MidWest 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 relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Erwin 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, 'Erwin' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 255th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 364th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 577th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 806th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1017th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1588th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2494th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6378th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 7607th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 11599th out of 12526 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 25632nd out of 27321 names. Discover how the name 'Erwin' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Erwin"
Pronunciation
/ˈɛr.wɪn/
Origin
Old High German
Etymology
The name Erwin is derived from the Old High German name 'Erwin', which is composed of the elements 'eri' meaning 'honor' and 'win' meaning 'friend'.
Meaning
honorable friend
Language Evolution
Erwin (Old High German), Ervin (Middle High German), Erwin (Modern German)
Historical Usage
The name Erwin gained popularity in the German-speaking regions during the medieval period and has remained in use into modern times.
Variants & Derivatives
Ervin, Irwin, Erwyn
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Erwin is viewed as a traditional yet strong name, often associated with characteristics such as loyalty and honor.
Famous People
Erwin Schrödinger, an Austrian physicist known for his contributions to quantum mechanics., Erwin Rommel, a German Field Marshal during World War II.
Explore More Erwin Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Erwin"
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 "Erwin"
"Erwin" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 255th of 7545 | 7,584 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 364th of 6773 | 4,431 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 577th of 7552 | 3,230 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 806th of 10718 | 1,639 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1017th of 16616 | 1,580 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1588th of 24088 | 1,387 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2494th of 23106 | 638 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 6378th of 9107 | 24 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 7607th of 9204 | 12 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 11599th of 12526 | 7 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 25632nd of 27321 | 6 |
Regional Popularity of "Erwin" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
11.37% 161st/1416 |
16.32% 225th/1379 |
21.26% 503rd/2366 |
29.60% 338th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
16.82% 260th/1546 |
17.16% 267th/1556 |
28.98% 682nd/2353 |
29.35% 454th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
22.59% 503rd/2227 |
20.00% 486th/2430 |
22.57% 644th/2853 |
22.31% 619th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
27.58% 810th/2937 |
19.15% 667th/3483 |
27.52% 968th/3518 |
17.68% 715th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
40.71% 1500th/3685 |
23.80% 1065th/4475 |
24.76% 1286th/5194 |
10.69% 675th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
45.26% 2074th/4582 |
31.99% 1652nd/5164 |
22.34% 1634th/7313 |
13.81% 1031st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
79.99% 3187th/3984 |
49.05% 2201st/4487 |
39.23% 2676th/6822 |
27.92% 1752nd/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Erwin" 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 "Erwin"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Erwin" 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.