What does Bjorn mean?
Bjorn means “bear” in Old Norse, a symbol of strength.
What does Erik mean?
Erik joins the Old Norse for “ever” or “alone” with “ruler,” “eternal ruler.”
Bjorn vs Erik
Which is more popular?
Erik is more popular than Bjorn today: about 549 US babies were given the name Erik in 2025, compared with 298 named Bjorn.
| Bjorn | Erik | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Bear | Eternal ruler |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | BYORN | EH-rik |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1925 | 1911 |
| Peak year | 2024 (331) | 1980 (4,918) |
| In 2025 | 298 | 549 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Bjorn
Erik
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Bjorn | Erik |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,895 | 3,996 |
| 2010s | 1,229 | 10,506 |
| 2000s | 550 | 22,408 |
| 1990s | 403 | 33,605 |
| 1980s | 598 | 36,350 |
| 1970s | 397 | 32,094 |
| 1960s | 145 | 14,770 |
| 1950s | 28 | 2,450 |
| 1940s | 5 | 857 |
| 1930s | 0 | 232 |
| 1920s | 5 | 141 |
| 1910s | 0 | 52 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Bjorn or Erik more popular?
Erik is more popular than Bjorn today: about 549 US babies were given the name Erik in 2025, compared with 298 named Bjorn.
What is the difference between Bjorn and Erik?
Bjorn means Bear (Norse origin), while Erik means Eternal ruler (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Bjorn or Erik?
In US records, Bjorn first appears in 1925 and Erik in 1911, so Erik has the longer recorded history.