Namewise

Erik vs Henrik

Erik and Henrikcompared 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, Erik was ranked #64 and Henrik #16 among boys in Norway.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2023, Erik was ranked #362 and Henrik #660 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Erik was ranked #408 and Henrik #1705 among boys in England and Wales.

Erik and Henrik over time

Erik and Henrik appear together in 2 published lists, across 110 years of shared records. Erik held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Henrik 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.

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.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1991, Henrik moved ahead of Erik in Norway · Boys — #20 and #24 the year before became #26 and #19.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Erik and Henrik averaged 57.1 places apart, ending at #64 and #16.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Henrik rose about as far as Erik fell — from #27 and #141 in 1945 to #64 and #16 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Erik and Henrik were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #64 and #16.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Erik #310 in 2021, Henrik #1113 in 2019.

List by list

  • Norway · Boys81 shared years, 1945–2025

    Erik held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Henrik in 35.

    Highest recorded here: Erik #15 in 1981, Henrik #3 in 2018.

    The order changed in 1991: Henrik moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #20 and #24; by 1991 that had become #26 and #19.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Erik #64, Henrik #16.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2025

    Erik held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Henrik in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Erik #310 in 2021, Henrik #1113 in 2019.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Erik #408, Henrik #1705.

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.

Other comparisons involving Henrik

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

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — longest-running competitions.

All longest-running competitions→

Other pairs from Norway lists

Pairs measured inside Norway's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Norway overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Erik, Henrik
FieldErikHenrik
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningTraditionally interpreted as 'eternal ruler' or 'honoured ruler'; historically a name borne by kings of Sweden, Denmark and Norway.Not yet recorded
OriginOld NorseNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈeːrɪk/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NOGB-ENW, IE, NO
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Boys #64 (2025)Norway · Boys #16 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Erik has a recorded origin (Old Norse); Henrik does not have one recorded yet.
  • Erik and Henrik both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Erik; Henrik doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.

How each name got here

Erik

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #15 among boys in Norway, in 1981 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #408 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Henrik

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #141 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Norway, in 2018 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1705 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys