Eric
/ˈɛrɪk/noun
A masculine given name of Old Norse origin.
Did you know?Eric comes from Old Norse Eiríkr, a compound often interpreted as “ever-ruler” or “eternal ruler,” with the first element tied to “ever, always” and the second to “ruler/king,” which is why it carried such strong royal prestige in Scandinavia.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*aiwaz
“ever, eternity”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*rīkijaz
“ruler, powerful, kingly”
Old Norse
ON
Eiríkr
“a masculine personal name, traditionally understood as “eternal ruler””
Old English
OE
Ēorīc / Ēric
“a borrowed or adapted personal name in early English use”
Modern English
English
Eric
“a common masculine given name”