What does Erik mean?
Erik joins the Old Norse for “ever” or “alone” with “ruler,” “eternal ruler.”
What does Leif mean?
Leif means “heir” or “descendant” in Old Norse.
Erik vs Leif
Which is more popular?
Erik is more popular than Leif today: about 549 US babies were given the name Erik in 2025, compared with 257 named Leif.
| Erik | Leif | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Eternal ruler | Heir, descendant |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | EH-rik | LAYF |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1911 | 1912 |
| Peak year | 1980 (4,918) | 2022 (290) |
| In 2025 | 549 | 257 |
| Trend | Declining | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Erik
Leif
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Erik | Leif |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 3,996 | 1,542 |
| 2010s | 10,506 | 1,971 |
| 2000s | 22,408 | 1,329 |
| 1990s | 33,605 | 878 |
| 1980s | 36,350 | 1,231 |
| 1970s | 32,094 | 1,158 |
| 1960s | 14,770 | 886 |
| 1950s | 2,450 | 442 |
| 1940s | 857 | 196 |
| 1930s | 232 | 111 |
| 1920s | 141 | 126 |
| 1910s | 52 | 127 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Erik or Leif more popular?
Erik is more popular than Leif today: about 549 US babies were given the name Erik in 2025, compared with 257 named Leif.
What is the difference between Erik and Leif?
Erik means Eternal ruler (Norse origin), while Leif means Heir, descendant (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Erik or Leif?
In US records, Erik first appears in 1911 and Leif in 1912, so Erik has the longer recorded history.