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