Erving is an uncommon male given name of American origin, derived from the Germanic elements "er" meaning "strong" and "win" meaning "friend". The name was popularized by Erving Goffman, a prominent sociologist known for his pioneering work on social identity and self-presentation. Today, it's still rarely used, which may contribute to its distinctive charm.
The name Erving experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the years, with a peak of 22 births recorded in 1919. It appears that the name was most commonly used between 1881 and 1934, with periods of increased popularity around 1915-1925 and again briefly in the late 1980s to early 1990s. However, it seems that the name has become quite uncommon in recent years, with fewer than 10 births recorded annually since 2007. Overall, there were a total of 940 babies named Erving from 1881 to 2018.