Erica

At a Glance

Meaning

Feminine form of the name Eric, from Old Norse; only secondarily associated with the heather/heath plant genus Erica

Origin

Old Norse (feminine form of Eric)

Gender

Used for both boys and girls

Pronunciation

ERR-ih-kuhListen

Erica is the feminine form of Eric, which comes from Old Norse. It's often assumed to mean "heather," but that's the plant's botanical name, not the name's own root; the heather link is only a secondary association. It's pronounced ERR-ih-kuh.

Meaning & Origin of Erica

Meaning: Feminine form of the name Eric, from Old Norse; only secondarily associated with the heather/heath plant genus Erica.

Origin: Old Norse (feminine form of Eric).

A common claim: Said to mean "heather" (the flowering plant). Actually: That's the botanical genus name Erica (Latin/Greek for heather). As a given name, Erica is actually the feminine form of Eric, from Old Norse, with the heather link only a secondary association.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Erica

Popularity of Erica

Erica peaked at #31 in 1986, when 9,972 babies were given the name. By 2024 it had slipped to #1487 with 146 babies, so it's now a rare pick that still sounds familiar.

Names Like Erica

These names have followed a similar path to Erica in U.S. popularity over the years.

• Yuri
• Dominique
• Terrell
• Yoel
• Lamar
• Rodolfo

FAQ

What does the name Erica mean?

Feminine form of the name Eric, from Old Norse; only secondarily associated with the heather/heath plant genus Erica. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Erica?

Erica is pronounced ERR-ih-kuh (IPA: /ˈɛrɪkə/).

Is Erica a popular name right now?

Erica peaked at #31 in 1986 and is ranked #1487 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1909–2024.)

Make Erica Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Erica, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.