Erika
Girl name · #1110 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Erika? In official American birth records, Erika has been tracked continuously since 1908, giving it 117 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 213 baby girls were named Erika, placing it at #1110 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #725, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 8,451 girls born in 2025 was named Erika.
The 117-year story
Erika first appears in the Social Security records in 1908, when 5 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1990, when 4,569 girls were named Erika — good for #74 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Erika per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Erika against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Erika in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Erika is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Erika will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Erika is most common
Geography matters for names, and Erika is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Erika is most common in WA (0.3 per 1,000), NC (0.3 per 1,000), IL (0.2 per 1,000), TX (0.2 per 1,000), FL (0.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Erika is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Erika
Statistically, parents drawn to Erika tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Erica, Kara, Malika, Alisha, and Natasha.
EricaKaraMalikaAlishaNatashaSilviaCaraKendra
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Erika | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 213 | #1109 |
| 2024 | 212 | #1140 |
| 2023 | 239 | #1051 |
| 2022 | 190 | #1259 |
| 2021 | 224 | #1103 |
| 2020 | 248 | #1015 |
| 2019 | 295 | #903 |
| 2018 | 299 | #899 |
| 2017 | 367 | #758 |
| 2016 | 383 | #745 |
| 2015 | 391 | #725 |
| 2014 | 421 | #675 |
| 2013 | 460 | #611 |
| 2012 | 556 | #539 |
| 2011 | 548 | #529 |
| 2010 | 728 | #429 |
| 2009 | 862 | #374 |
| 2008 | 1,017 | #331 |
| 2007 | 1,279 | #265 |
| 2006 | 1,431 | #238 |
| 2005 | 1,617 | #216 |
| 2004 | 1,773 | #192 |
| 2003 | 1,818 | #178 |
| 2002 | 1,960 | #167 |
| 2001 | 2,230 | #147 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Erika?
In official American birth records, the name Erika first appeared in 1908 (over 117 years ago), when 5 newborn girls received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 117 years.
Is Erika a popular girl name?
Erika ranked #1110 among girls in 2025 with 213 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #725.
When was the name Erika most popular?
Erika peaked in 1990, when 4,569 American girls received the name (ranked #74 that year). Since 1990 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Erika?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 8,451 newborn American girls was named Erika. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.