Alec vs Erik

Alec and Erikcompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.

Head to head

Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.

Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2017, Alec was ranked #318 and Erik #318 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Alec was ranked #535 and Erik #404 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Alec was ranked #945 and Erik #418 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Alec was ranked #829 and Erik #468 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Alec and Erik over time

Alec and Erik appear together in 2 published lists, across 58 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.

The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.

Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.

How this pair is related

The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.

Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alec and Erik changed places 13 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1971 and 2025, ending at #829 and #468.

List by list

England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alec held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Erik in 13.
Highest recorded here: Alec #262 in 1997, Erik #310 in 2021.
The order changed in 2012: Erik moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #580 and #602; by 2012 that had become #654 and #559.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alec #945, Erik #418.
Republic of Ireland · Boys29 shared years, 1971–2025
Alec held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Erik in 16.
Highest recorded here: Alec #251 in 2001, Erik #235 in 1988.
The order changed in 2020: Erik moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #352 and #466; by 2020 that had become #342 and #280.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alec #829, Erik #468.

Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Erik

Pairs where Erik shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Erik vs Arild
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #32 in Norway · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #64 and #489.
Erik · Arild · 75 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2025 Norway ranking
Erik vs Kåre
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #21 in Norway · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #64 and #358.
Erik · Kåre · 75 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
See the 2025 Norway ranking
Aksel vs Erik
Aksel and Erik were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #25 and #64.
Aksel · Erik · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
See the 2025 Norway ranking
Anders vs Erik
Anders and Erik were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #293 and #64.
Anders · Erik · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
See the 2025 Norway ranking

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Alec, Erik
Field	Alec	Erik
Record type	Official statistical record (evidence-only)	Editorially researched profile
Gender usage	male	male
Meaning	Not yet recorded	Traditionally interpreted as 'eternal ruler' or 'honoured ruler'; historically a name borne by kings of Sweden, Denmark and Norway.
Origin	Not yet recorded	Old Norse
Pronunciation	Not yet recorded	/ˈeːrɪk/
Syllables	2	2
Common variants / nicknames	Not yet recorded	Not yet recorded
Recorded regional usage	GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE	GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO
Most recent popularity observation	Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025)	Norway · Boys #64 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)	Not yet recorded	90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)	95/100	95/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)	100/100	100/100
Data Confidence	medium	medium

What the data shows

Erik has a recorded origin (Old Norse); Alec does not have one recorded yet.
Alec and Erik both have 2 syllables.
A meaning is recorded for Erik; Alec doesn't have one written yet.
Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.

How each name got here

Alec

Popularity journey

First recorded1971
First recorded at #257 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1971–2025
Highest recorded position: #249 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1987 (recorded 1971–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys

Erik

Popularity journey

First recorded1945
First recorded at #27 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #15 among boys in Norway, in 1981 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #64 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys