Eric

Eric is a Germanic name, derived from the Old Norse elements ei, meaning "ever" or "always," and ríkr, meaning "ruler" or "powerful," yielding the sense of "eternal ruler" or "ever-powerful." It was borne by numerous Scandinavian kings, most famously Erik the Red, the Norse explorer credited with settling Greenland in the tenth century. The name spread widely through Viking influence across Europe and remains popular in many Western countries today. Related forms include Erik, the dominant Scandinavian spelling, as well as Eirik, Erich, and the feminine variant Erica.