Erie is of Native American origin, derived from the Ojibwe word 'Érií' meaning 'fast flowing stream'. This name has been associated with Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes in North America. It gained popularity as a given name in the late 19th century but remains relatively uncommon today.
The name Erie has seen varied popularity over time, with a total of 1960 recorded births from 1880 to 2002. The highest number of births occurred in 1970 with 81 babies named Erie, while the lowest was in 1880 and 1994 with just 6 births each. After peaking in the late 1940s and early 1950s, the name's popularity steadily declined, reaching its lowest point in recent years.