Eric
Eric comes from the Old Norse "Eiríkr" — "ei" (always, alone, eternal) and "ríkr" (ruler) — meaning "eternal ruler" or "alone ruler." Eric the Red (c.950-c.1003) was the Norse explorer who founded the first European settlements in Greenland. Eric (the Norse name) was used by Viking kings and earls. Eric was a top-100 American name from 1950 to 2000, peaking at #13 in 1976. Eric Clapton (born 1945), the British guitarist whose "Layla" (1970) and "Tears in Heaven" (1992) defined an era of rock, is the most famous bearer. Eric (the actor Eric Bana, born 1968) gave the name a contemporary charge. I find Eric has a brisk, slightly mid-century quality — the single syllable is direct, and the "E" opening is open. The "c" ending gives it sharpness. Eric has been outside the US top 200 since 2014. Eric is a male name of Old Norse origin that means "Eternal ruler, alone ruler". Brisk, mid-century, and a little rock-and-roll. The name sounds direct. Erics tend to be confident. US peaked #13 in 1976. Outside top 200 since 2014. Well-known people named Eric include Eric the Red (explorer), Eric Clapton (musician), Eric (Old Norse name), Eric (fictional, various). Common variations and related forms of Eric include Erik (Scandinavian), Erich (German), Eryk (Polish), Rick (nickname).