Emil vs Erik
Emil 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.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Emil was ranked #2 and Erik #64 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Emil was ranked #619 and Erik #404 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Emil was ranked #737 and Erik #418 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Emil was ranked #468 and Erik #468 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Emil and Erik over time
Emil and Erik appear together in 3 published lists, across 129 years of shared records. Erik held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Emil in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Emil reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Erik in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1998, Emil moved ahead of Erik in Norway · Boys — #30 and #26 the year before became #28 and #29.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Emil and Erik changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #737 and #418.
- Mirrored each other
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Emil rose about as far as Erik fell — from #271 and #27 in 1945 to #2 and #64 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Emil and Erik were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #2 and #64.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Emil #310 in 2012, Erik #252 in 2013.
List by list
Norway · Boys81 shared years, 1945–2025
Emil held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Erik in 53.
Highest recorded here: Emil #1 in 2008, Erik #15 in 1981.
The order changed in 1998: Emil moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #30 and #26; by 1998 that had become #28 and #29.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emil #2, Erik #64.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Emil held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Erik in 25.
Highest recorded here: Emil #506 in 2015, Erik #310 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emil #737, Erik #418.
Republic of Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 2006–2025
Emil held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Erik in 14.
Highest recorded here: Emil #310 in 2012, Erik #252 in 2013.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emil #468, 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.
Side by side
| Field | Emil | Erik |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From the Roman family name Aemilius, itself from Latin 'aemulus' meaning 'rival'. | Traditionally interpreted as 'eternal ruler' or 'honoured ruler'; historically a name borne by kings of Sweden, Denmark and Norway. |
| Origin | Latin, widely used across Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German and other European traditions | Old Norse |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeː.mɪl/ | /ˈeːrɪk/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #2 (2025) | Norway · Boys #64 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Emil is recorded with a Latin, widely used across Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, German and other European traditions origin, while Erik is recorded with a Old Norse origin.
- Emil and Erik both have 2 syllables.
- Emil's recorded meaning differs from Erik's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Emil
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #271 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: #1 among boys in Norway, in 2008 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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