Fun Facts About the Name Erin
- An established favorite: Erin held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 34 consecutive years, from 1971 through 2004.
- More than 326 thousand babies named Erin: U.S. records list 326,052 babies given the name Erin from 1880 through 2025. Even 9,477 boys received the name Erin - about 1 boy for every 33 girls.
What Does the Name Erin Mean?
Erin is an English name meaning "Ireland." It comes from Irish Éirinn, the dative or prepositional form of Éire, the Irish name for the island and the state. The form Éirinn appears in phrases such as Éirinn go brách, "Ireland forever," which English speakers rendered as "Erin go bragh."
The older root is Old Irish Ériu, the name of the island and of a goddess in Irish tradition. In Éirinn, the final -inn is a case ending rather than part of the core meaning, so the name's literal sense is simply "Ireland." The ultimate origin of Ériu is uncertain. One explanation connects it with an Indo-European root meaning "fat" or "fertile," which would suggest something like "fertile land," but that derivation is not settled.
In English, Erin has also served as a poetic and political name for Ireland itself. That symbolic use is later than the underlying Irish place name and does not change the name's basic meaning.
Erin Name History & Origins
In medieval Irish tradition, the island was called Ériu, and the goddess Ériu is one of the three women who, in the Lebor Gabála Érenn (Book of Invasions), ask that the land be named for them. The name Ériu developed in Irish into Éire, the ordinary modern Irish name for Ireland, with Éirinn as its dative or prepositional form.
English writers and speakers anglicized Éirinn as Erin. In English-language poetry and song, Erin has been used as a personified name for Ireland, especially in Irish nationalist and emigrant writing. Thomas Moore's Irish Melodies includes the song "Erin, the Tear and the Smile in Thine Eyes," and the phrase "Erin go bragh" comes from Irish Éirinn go brách, "Ireland forever." These literary uses are distinct from the name's origin as a form of the Irish place name.
As a given name, Erin is an English-language adaptation of the Irish place name. It is used in Ireland, among the Irish diaspora, and in other English-speaking countries, generally as a female name. In modern Irish, Éire is the official name of the state, while Éirinn is used after prepositions; English Erin therefore preserves an older case form rather than the modern nominative Éire.
How Popular is the Name Erin?
Erin recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1983. Its best rank was #18 in 1983.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #833 | 327 | 0.0203% |
| 2024 | #797 | 352 | 0.0218% |
| 2023 | #653 | 450 | 0.0281% |
| 2022 | #686 | 427 | 0.0261% |
| 2021 | #574 | 527 | 0.0321% |
| 2020 | #521 | 581 | 0.0360% |
| 2019 | #484 | 650 | 0.0387% |
| 2018 | #417 | 743 | 0.0437% |
| 2017 | #408 | 777 | 0.0450% |
| 2016 | #355 | 925 | 0.0522% |
| 2015 | #336 | 974 | 0.0546% |
| 2014 | #324 | 1,022 | 0.0572% |
| 2013 | #275 | 1,168 | 0.0666% |
| 2012 | #263 | 1,235 | 0.0701% |
| 2011 | #234 | 1,350 | 0.0768% |
| 2010 | #216 | 1,441 | 0.0811% |
| 2009 | #194 | 1,696 | 0.0923% |
| 2008 | #164 | 2,064 | 0.1092% |
| 2007 | #141 | 2,477 | 0.1288% |
| 2006 | #131 | 2,644 | 0.1391% |
| 2005 | #112 | 2,907 | 0.1573% |
| 2004 | #95 | 3,367 | 0.1834% |
| 2003 | #80 | 3,926 | 0.2149% |
| 2002 | #72 | 4,145 | 0.2307% |
| 2001 | #60 | 4,958 | 0.2754% |
| 2000 | #61 | 5,184 | 0.2855% |
| 1999 | #58 | 5,223 | 0.2945% |
| 1998 | #57 | 5,471 | 0.3096% |
| 1997 | #52 | 5,939 | 0.3412% |
| 1996 | #51 | 6,256 | 0.3569% |
| 1995 | #49 | 6,565 | 0.3733% |
| 1994 | #45 | 6,908 | 0.3868% |
| 1993 | #48 | 6,717 | 0.3713% |
| 1992 | #46 | 7,059 | 0.3828% |
| 1991 | #44 | 7,208 | 0.3844% |
| 1990 | #43 | 7,988 | 0.4207% |
| 1989 | #40 | 8,143 | 0.4417% |
| 1988 | #37 | 8,267 | 0.4642% |
| 1987 | #34 | 8,847 | 0.5089% |
| 1986 | #30 | 10,068 | 0.5869% |
| 1985 | #26 | 11,384 | 0.6615% |
| 1984 | #25 | 12,622 | 0.7496% |
| 1983 | #18 | 14,837 | 0.8881% |
| 1982 | #20 | 14,362 | 0.8481% |
| 1981 | #19 | 13,853 | 0.8305% |
| 1980 | #20 | 13,428 | 0.8087% |
| 1979 | #21 | 11,259 | 0.7014% |
| 1978 | #21 | 10,787 | 0.7042% |
| 1977 | #23 | 10,198 | 0.6652% |
| 1976 | #24 | 8,383 | 0.5722% |
| 1975 | #38 | 6,894 | 0.4729% |
| 1974 | #47 | 5,868 | 0.3999% |
| 1973 | #79 | 3,877 | 0.2659% |
| 1972 | #93 | 3,289 | 0.2162% |
| 1971 | #93 | 3,856 | 0.2318% |
| 1970 | #111 | 3,480 | 0.1991% |
| 1969 | #114 | 3,059 | 0.1813% |
| 1968 | #174 | 1,864 | 0.1136% |
| 1967 | #185 | 1,685 | 0.1021% |
| 1966 | #207 | 1,523 | 0.0900% |
| 1965 | #220 | 1,463 | 0.0829% |
| 1964 | #229 | 1,426 | 0.0753% |
| 1963 | #255 | 1,201 | 0.0623% |
| 1962 | #276 | 1,062 | 0.0540% |
| 1961 | #269 | 1,133 | 0.0561% |
| 1960 | #264 | 1,155 | 0.0571% |
| 1959 | #248 | 1,229 | 0.0607% |
| 1958 | #260 | 1,136 | 0.0565% |
| 1957 | #274 | 1,014 | 0.0496% |
| 1956 | #534 | 305 | 0.0152% |
| 1955 | #715 | 175 | 0.0090% |
| 1954 | #702 | 175 | 0.0090% |
| 1953 | #1,044 | 86 | 0.0046% |
| 1952 | #1,005 | 88 | 0.0047% |
| 1951 | #939 | 97 | 0.0054% |
| 1950 | #1,044 | 77 | 0.0045% |
| 1949 | #1,025 | 76 | 0.0044% |
| 1948 | #1,176 | 59 | 0.0035% |
| 1947 | #980 | 81 | 0.0046% |
| 1946 | #1,037 | 67 | 0.0043% |
| 1945 | #1,125 | 49 | 0.0037% |
| 1944 | #1,107 | 50 | 0.0038% |
| 1943 | #1,206 | 45 | 0.0032% |
| 1942 | #1,233 | 42 | 0.0031% |
| 1941 | #1,191 | 40 | 0.0033% |
| 1940 | #1,487 | 27 | 0.0024% |
| 1939 | #1,524 | 25 | 0.0023% |
| 1938 | #1,237 | 35 | 0.0032% |
| 1937 | #1,465 | 26 | 0.0024% |
| 1936 | #1,819 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1935 | #1,736 | 20 | 0.0019% |
| 1934 | #1,619 | 22 | 0.0021% |
| 1933 | #1,855 | 18 | 0.0018% |
| 1932 | #2,062 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1931 | #3,048 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1930 | #3,138 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1929 | #3,795 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1928 | #2,040 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1927 | #2,368 | 15 | 0.0013% |
| 1926 | #3,120 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1925 | #3,182 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1924 | #2,080 | 19 | 0.0015% |
| 1923 | #1,364 | 34 | 0.0028% |
| 1922 | #2,315 | 16 | 0.0013% |
| 1921 | #1,553 | 29 | 0.0024% |
| 1920 | #1,677 | 25 | 0.0021% |
| 1919 | #1,492 | 28 | 0.0025% |
| 1918 | #1,711 | 23 | 0.0020% |
| 1917 | #1,351 | 30 | 0.0028% |
| 1916 | #1,457 | 26 | 0.0025% |
| 1915 | #1,324 | 29 | 0.0029% |
| 1914 | #1,401 | 21 | 0.0028% |
| 1913 | #1,281 | 20 | 0.0032% |
| 1912 | #1,496 | 14 | 0.0025% |
| 1911 | #1,694 | 9 | 0.0022% |
| 1910 | #1,673 | 9 | 0.0023% |
| 1909 | #1,070 | 15 | 0.0043% |
| 1908 | #2,214 | 5 | 0.0015% |
| 1907 | #1,545 | 8 | 0.0025% |
| 1906 | #1,249 | 10 | 0.0034% |
| 1905 | #1,338 | 9 | 0.0031% |
| 1904 | #1,534 | 7 | 0.0025% |
| 1903 | #1,151 | 10 | 0.0038% |
| 1902 | #1,492 | 7 | 0.0027% |
| 1900 | #1,350 | 9 | 0.0030% |
| 1898 | #1,059 | 11 | 0.0043% |
| 1897 | #1,059 | 10 | 0.0043% |
| 1896 | #1,470 | 6 | 0.0025% |
| 1895 | #1,008 | 11 | 0.0047% |
| 1894 | #1,557 | 5 | 0.0022% |
| 1890 | #960 | 9 | 0.0047% |
| 1889 | #1,186 | 6 | 0.0034% |
| 1888 | #1,347 | 5 | 0.0028% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,587 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 2024 | #3,616 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 2023 | #3,491 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2022 | #4,118 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 2021 | #3,199 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 2020 | #2,943 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 2019 | #3,375 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 2018 | #3,121 | 37 | 0.0020% |
| 2017 | #2,429 | 53 | 0.0029% |
| 2016 | #2,901 | 41 | 0.0022% |
| 2015 | #2,260 | 59 | 0.0031% |
| 2014 | #2,470 | 51 | 0.0027% |
| 2013 | #2,603 | 46 | 0.0024% |
| 2012 | #2,163 | 62 | 0.0033% |
| 2011 | #2,356 | 54 | 0.0028% |
| 2010 | #2,269 | 57 | 0.0030% |
| 2009 | #2,057 | 67 | 0.0034% |
| 2008 | #2,095 | 66 | 0.0032% |
| 2007 | #1,985 | 71 | 0.0034% |
| 2006 | #1,863 | 73 | 0.0036% |
| 2005 | #1,859 | 69 | 0.0035% |
| 2004 | #1,508 | 89 | 0.0045% |
| 2003 | #1,483 | 88 | 0.0045% |
| 2002 | #1,363 | 97 | 0.0050% |
| 2001 | #1,234 | 108 | 0.0056% |
| 2000 | #1,317 | 98 | 0.0050% |
| 1999 | #1,102 | 121 | 0.0063% |
| 1998 | #1,123 | 114 | 0.0060% |
| 1997 | #1,020 | 125 | 0.0066% |
| 1996 | #916 | 143 | 0.0075% |
| 1995 | #742 | 211 | 0.0111% |
| 1994 | #814 | 169 | 0.0087% |
| 1993 | #816 | 168 | 0.0086% |
| 1992 | #797 | 172 | 0.0086% |
| 1991 | #780 | 174 | 0.0086% |
| 1990 | #655 | 238 | 0.0116% |
| 1989 | #655 | 233 | 0.0116% |
| 1988 | #664 | 203 | 0.0106% |
| 1987 | #659 | 192 | 0.0103% |
| 1986 | #632 | 201 | 0.0109% |
| 1985 | #597 | 215 | 0.0116% |
| 1984 | #615 | 192 | 0.0106% |
| 1983 | #577 | 214 | 0.0119% |
| 1982 | #549 | 246 | 0.0136% |
| 1981 | #540 | 242 | 0.0135% |
| 1980 | #529 | 264 | 0.0148% |
| 1979 | #519 | 265 | 0.0154% |
| 1978 | #506 | 259 | 0.0158% |
| 1977 | #533 | 248 | 0.0151% |
| 1976 | #456 | 295 | 0.0188% |
| 1975 | #447 | 319 | 0.0204% |
| 1974 | #442 | 321 | 0.0204% |
| 1973 | #448 | 305 | 0.0196% |
| 1972 | #463 | 288 | 0.0178% |
| 1971 | #456 | 319 | 0.0180% |
| 1970 | #498 | 262 | 0.0141% |
| 1969 | #531 | 219 | 0.0122% |
| 1968 | #606 | 158 | 0.0091% |
| 1967 | #715 | 108 | 0.0062% |
| 1966 | #742 | 99 | 0.0056% |
| 1965 | #779 | 90 | 0.0048% |
| 1964 | #887 | 74 | 0.0037% |
| 1963 | #995 | 58 | 0.0029% |
| 1962 | #1,060 | 52 | 0.0025% |
| 1961 | #1,284 | 38 | 0.0018% |
| 1960 | #1,075 | 52 | 0.0024% |
| 1959 | #1,235 | 40 | 0.0019% |
| 1958 | #1,267 | 37 | 0.0017% |
| 1957 | #1,271 | 38 | 0.0018% |
| 1956 | #1,736 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1955 | #2,474 | 11 | 0.0005% |
| 1954 | #2,637 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1953 | #2,128 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1952 | #1,883 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1951 | #2,910 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #2,136 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1949 | #3,849 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1948 | #3,842 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1947 | #3,174 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1946 | #2,988 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1944 | #3,223 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1942 | #3,730 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1941 | #2,246 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1940 | #3,610 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1939 | #3,227 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1938 | #3,285 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1924 | #4,026 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1921 | #4,015 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1920 | #3,970 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1918 | #3,868 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1915 | #3,537 | 6 | 0.0007% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Erin
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Erin Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are fine when in harmony but changeable when in discord, because many of your best qualities are then reversed. You are entertaining but may be impulsive. Freedom is a necessity, and you find it difficult to settle down. Your versatility results in many changes, and often brings travel. Your fine intellect is capable of high honors if applied seriously. You are capable of inspired thinking applied to material things. You can be restless, changeable, and very sexy. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Erin's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Erin's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.