What does Erik mean?
Erik joins the Old Norse for “ever” or “alone” with “ruler,” “eternal ruler.”
What does Odin mean?
Odin is the chief Norse god; the name is linked to “frenzy,” “fury” and “inspiration.”
Erik vs Odin
Which is more popular?
Odin is more popular than Erik today: about 604 US babies were given the name Odin in 2025, compared with 549 named Erik.
| Erik | Odin | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Eternal ruler | Frenzy, inspiration |
| Origin | Norse | Norse |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | EH-rik | OH-din |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1911 | 1884 |
| Peak year | 1980 (4,918) | 2022 (1,023) |
| In 2025 | 549 | 604 |
| Trend | Declining | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Erik
Odin
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Erik | Odin |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 3,996 | 5,176 |
| 2010s | 10,506 | 6,435 |
| 2000s | 22,408 | 1,209 |
| 1990s | 33,605 | 118 |
| 1980s | 36,350 | 67 |
| 1970s | 32,094 | 66 |
| 1960s | 14,770 | 18 |
| 1950s | 2,450 | 0 |
| 1940s | 857 | 11 |
| 1930s | 232 | 12 |
| 1920s | 141 | 66 |
| 1910s | 52 | 88 |
| 1900s | 0 | 10 |
| 1880s | 0 | 6 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Erik or Odin more popular?
Odin is more popular than Erik today: about 604 US babies were given the name Odin in 2025, compared with 549 named Erik.
What is the difference between Erik and Odin?
Erik means Eternal ruler (Norse origin), while Odin means Frenzy, inspiration (Norse origin).
Which name is older, Erik or Odin?
In US records, Erik first appears in 1911 and Odin in 1884, so Odin has the longer recorded history.