Eiríkur

Eiríkur is a masculine given name in Icelandic. It is the Icelandic form of the given name Eric, Erik, and derives from the Old Norse Eiríkr, which is composed of ei- meaning “ever, always” and ríkr meaning “ruler” or “king.” The combined meaning is commonly rendered as “ever ruler” or “eternal ruler.”

Historically, the Old Norse form Eiríkr appears in chronicles and sagas; a well-known cognate is Eiríkr Blóðøx (Eric Bloodaxe), a 10th-century king who features in Norse literature. In modern Iceland, Eiríkur remains a traditional but not universal name, part of a broader set of Icelandic forms that include other common given names. Across Nordic and Western European languages, the name has several variants (Eric, Erik, Éric), with Icelandic spelling typically adapted to Eiríkur.

In contemporary Iceland, individuals named Eiríkur can be found in a variety of fields, including literature, academia, and public life. The name continues to be recognized as a classic element of Icelandic naming patterns and national heritage.