Erik is of Scandinavian origin, derived from the Old Norse 'Æsir'. It means 'eternal ruler' or 'always powerful'. This name was popularized by Norse mythology, where Erik was a god and also a legendary 9th-century Viking explorer known as Erik the Red.
The name Erik experienced a significant surge in popularity during the late 1970s and early 1980s, reaching its peak with 41 births in 1980. However, it has since seen a steady decline, with fewer than 25 births recorded annually since 1986. The most recent data shows only 7 births in 2008, indicating that Erik is now quite rare as a baby name.