Erik vs Robert
Erik and Robert compared 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 Robert #363 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Erik was ranked #404 and Robert #80 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Erik was ranked #404 and Robert #93 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Erik was ranked #468 and Robert #104 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Erik was ranked #408 and Robert #164 among boys in England and Wales.
Erik and Robert over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Erik and Robert over time
Erik and Robert appear together in 3 published lists, across 148 years of shared records. Robert held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Erik in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Robert reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Erik in none. 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Erik and Robert were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #408 and #164.
List by list
Norway · Boys81 shared years, 1945–2025
Erik held the stronger position in 78 of those years, Robert in 3.
Highest recorded here: Erik #15 in 1981, Robert #25 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Erik #64, Robert #363.
Republic of Ireland · Boys37 shared years, 1971–2025
Erik held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 37.
Highest recorded here: Erik #235 in 1988, Robert #12 in 1979.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Erik #468, Robert #104.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Erik held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robert in 30.
Highest recorded here: Erik #310 in 2021, Robert #30 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Erik #408, Robert #164.
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
- 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
- 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
- Andreas vs Erik
Andreas and Erik were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #96 and #64.
Andreas · Erik · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Other comparisons involving Robert
Pairs where Robert shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Robert vs Ashley
In 1996 they stood at #30 and #40 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #164 and #716.
Robert · Ashley · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Robert vs Raymond
In 1964 they stood at #22 and #30 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #104 and #509.
Robert · Raymond · 61 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Robert vs Magnus
In 1945 they stood at #126 and #125 in Norway · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #363 and #17.
Robert · Magnus · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Robert vs Alfred
In 1945 they stood at #126 and #127 in Norway · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #363 and #26.
Robert · Alfred · 75 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — longest-running competitions.
- Anders vs Aksel
Anders and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #293 and #25.
Anders · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Andreas vs Aksel
Andreas and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #96 and #25.
Andreas · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Arne vs Aksel
Arne and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #222 and #25.
Arne · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Bjørn vs Aksel
Bjørn and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #56 and #25.
Bjørn · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · 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.
- Ingrid vs Wenche
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #22 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2008 they were #6 and #621.
Ingrid · Wenche · 58 shared years, 1945–2008 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Torill
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #39 in Norway · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2004 they were #10 and #599.
Anna · Torill · 55 shared years, 1945–2004 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ingrid vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2006 they were #6 and #583.
Ingrid · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2006 they were #10 and #583.
Anna · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Erik | Robert |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally interpreted as 'eternal ruler' or 'honoured ruler'; historically a name borne by kings of Sweden, Denmark and Norway. | From Germanic Hrodebert, combining 'hruod' (fame) with 'beraht' (bright) — 'bright fame'. Introduced to Britain by the Normans, later borne by Robert the Bruce. |
| Origin | Old Norse | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeːrɪk/ | /ˈɹɑb.əɹt/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #64 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #104 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Erik is recorded with a Old Norse origin, while Robert is recorded with a Germanic origin.
- Erik and Robert both have 2 syllables.
- Erik's recorded meaning differs from Robert'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
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 #408 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Robert
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #126 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2003
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #164 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys