The

given name A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name as well, and differentiates that person from the other members of a group (typically a f ...

Erika is a female name with multiple meanings of

Old Norse Old Norse, also referred to as Old Nordic or Old Scandinavian, was a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants ...

and Japanese origin. Erika and the variants Erica, Ericka, or Ereka are feminine forms of

Eric The given name Eric, Erich, Erikk, Erik, Erick, Eirik, or Eiríkur is derived from the Old Norse name ''Eiríkr'' (or ''Eríkr'' in Old East Norse due to monophthongization). The first element, ''ei-'' may be derived from the older Proto-N ...

, derived from the

name ''Eiríkr'' (or ''Eríkr'' in Eastern Scandinavia due to monophthongization). The first element, ''ei-'' is derived either from the older Proto-Norse ''*aina(z)'', meaning "one, alone, unique", as in the form ''Æinrikr'' explicitly, or from ''*aiwa(z)'' "long time, eternity". The second element ''-ríkr'' stems either from ''*ríks'' "king, ruler" (cf. Gothic ''reiks'') or from the therefrom derived ''*ríkijaz'' "kingly, powerful, rich". The name is thus usually taken to mean "sole ruler,

monarch A monarch () is a head of stateWebster's II New College Dictionary. "Monarch". Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 2001. p. 707. Life tenure, for life or until abdication, and therefore the head of state of a monarchy. A monarch may exercise the highest ...

" or "eternal ruler, ever powerful". It is a common name in many Western societies. Erika (えりか , エリカ) is a common female Japanese given name in

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

. It has multiple meanings depending on the

kanji are logographic Chinese characters, adapted from Chinese family of scripts, Chinese script, used in the writing of Japanese language, Japanese. They were made a major part of the Japanese writing system during the time of Old Japanese and are ...

. The Japanese origin of the given name has nothing in common with the Nordic roots of the Western version. '' Erica'' is also the name of a

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

of approximately 860 species of flowering plants in the family

Ericaceae The Ericaceae () are a Family (biology), family of flowering plants, commonly known as the heath or heather family, found most commonly in acidic and infertile growing conditions. The family is large, with about 4,250 known species spread acros ...

, commonly known as "heaths" or "heathers" in English, and is the Latin word for "heather".

Authors and poets

* Erica Jong (born 1942), American author * Erica Sakurazawa (born 1963), Japanese manga author * Erika Liebman (1738–1803), Swedish poet * Erika Mann (1905–1969), German writer, the daughter of Thomas Mann *Erika Mitchell, the real name of author E. L. James (born 1963)

Fictional characters

*Erika, the eponymous character of the German marching song " Erika" * Erika (Pokémon), a character in the video game series ''Pokémon'' * Erika (Underworld), a character in the film ''Underworld'' *Erika, a character in the anime series '' Tōshō Daimos'' *Erika, the titular pauper of '' Barbie as the Princess and the Pauper'' *Erica Ainsworth, a character in the manga series '' Fate/kaleid liner Prisma Illya'' *Erika Amano, a character in the manga series '' A Couple of Cuckoos'' *Erika Aoi, a character in the game series '' Heaven Burns Red'' *, a character in the anime series '' Anime-Gataris'' * Erika Berger, a character in the novel series ''Millennium'' *, a character in the web novel series ''The Irregular at Magic High School'' *Erica Davidson, a character in the television series ''

Prisoner A prisoner, also known as an inmate or detainee, is a person who is deprived of liberty against their will. This can be by confinement or captivity in a prison or physical restraint. The term usually applies to one serving a Sentence (law), se ...

'' * Erica Farrell, a character in the media franchise ''Degrassi'' * Erica Fontaine, a character in the media franchise ''Sakura Taisen'' * Erika Ford, a character in the television series ''Friends'' *, a character in the visual novel series ''Umineko When They Cry'' *Erica Goldberg, a character in the television series '' The Goldbergs'' * Erica Hahn, a character in the television series ''Grey's Anatomy'' * Erica Hartmann, a character in the media franchise ''Strike Witches'' *, a character in the anime series '' Girls und Panzer'' * (a.k.a. Cure Marine), a major character in the anime series '' HeartCatch PreCure!'' * Erica Kane, a character in the soap opera ''All My Children'' * Erika Kohut, protagonist of the novel ''The Piano Teacher'' *Erika Mishima, a character in the video game series '' Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker's Memory'' *, a character in the visual novel '' Fortune Arterial'' * Erica Reyes, a character in the television series ''Teen Wolf'' * Erica Strange, a character in the television series ''Being Erica'' * Erica Sinclair, a character in the

Netflix Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...

Series Stranger Things *, a character in the manga series '' Wolf Girl and Black Prince'' *Erika Shiragami (白神英理加) a character from the movie Godzilla vs Biollante *, a character in the anime series '' Sakura Quest'' *, a character in the anime series '' Ginga e Kickoff!!'' *, a character in the anime series '' Tsuritama'' * Erica Yurken, protagonist of the novel ''Hating Alison Ashley''

Politics

* Erica de Vries, American politician * Erica Yuen (born 1980), Hong Kong politician, actress, and presenter * Erika Harold (born 1980), American attorney, politician, and 2003 Miss America * Erika Mann (politician) (born 1950), German politician * Erika Steinbach (born 1943), German politician

Science and education

* Erica Hinckson, New Zealand professor of sport and exercise science * Erika Cremer (1900–1996), German physicist * Erika Cuellar (born 1978), Bolivian biologist * Erika Doss (fl. 1980s–2020s), professor of American Studies at the University of Notre Dame * Erika Hamden, American astrophysicist and Assistant Professor * Erika Marín-Spiotta, Spanish-born biogeochemist and ecosystem ecologist * Erika Zavaleta, American ecologist and evolutionary biologist

Sports

Basketball

* Erica Gavel (born 1991), Canadian wheelchair basketball player * Érika de Souza (born 1982), Brazilian basketball player

Football

* Erika Vázquez (born 1983), Spanish footballer * Érika Cristiano dos Santos (born 1988), Brazilian footballer

Golf

* Erica Blasberg (1984–2010), American professional golfer * Erika Hara (born 1999), Japanese professional golfer

Gymnastics

Erica Sanz Ginés Erica Sanz Ginés (born 2003) is a Spanish athlete who competes in trampoline gymnastics. Her younger sister Diana Sanz Ginés Diana Sanz Ginés (born 2005) is a Spanish athlete who competes in trampoline gymnastics. Her older sister Erica Sa ...

(born 2003), Spanish gymnast * Erika Akiyama (born 1964), Japanese rhythmic gymnast

Swimming

* Erica Morningstar (born 1989), Canadian swimmer * Erica Rose (born 1982), American long-distance swimmer *

Erica Sullivan (swimmer) Erica Marie Sullivan (born August 9, 2000) is a retired American swimming (sport), swimmer. She received a silver medal in the 1500-meter freestyle at the 2020 Summer Olympics after placing second and qualifying in the event at the 2020 United S ...

(born 2000), American swimmer * Erika González (born 1972), Mexican freestyle swimmer * Erika Hansen (born 1970), American swimmer * Erika Nara, Japanese Paralympic swimmer

Track and field

* Erica Alfridi (born 1968), Italian race walker * Erica Bartolina (born 1980), American pole vaulter * Erica Bougard (born 1993), American heptathlete * Erica Jarder (born 1986), Swedish long jumper * Erica Johansson (born 1974), Swedish long jumper * Erika Fisch (1934–2021), German long jumper * Erika Kinsey (born 1988), Swedish high jumper * Erika Rudolf (1954–2009), Hungarian high jumper * Érika Olivera (born 1976), Chilean marathon runner

Volleyball

* Erika Araki (born 1984), Japanese national volleyball team captain * Érika Coimbra (born 1980), Brazilian volleyball player

Other sports

* Erika Akaya (born 1990), Japanese field hockey player for the Japanese national team * Erika Alarcón, Paraguayan roller skater * Erika deLone, (born 1972), retired American professional tennis player * Erika Doornbos (born 1956), Dutch curler * Erika Kirpu (born 1992), Estonian épée fencer * Erika Schmutz (born 1973), Canadian former Wheelchair rugby player and power engineer

Entertainment

Actresses

* Erica Durance (born 1978), Canadian actress * Erika Alexander (born 1969), American actress * Erika Anderson, American actress * Erika Buenfil (born 1963), Mexican actress * Erika Christensen (born 1982), American actress * Erika Eleniak (born 1969), American actress and Playboy Playmate * Erica Gimpel (born 1964), American actress * Erika Henningsen (born 1992), American actress * Erika Kaljusaar (born 1956), Estonian actress * Erika Pluhar (born 1939), Austrian actress, singer and author * Erika Slezak (born 1946), American actress best known for her long-running role as Viki Davidson on ''One Life to Live'' * Erika Toda (戸田恵梨香, born 1988), Japanese actress

Models

* Erica Nego, beauty queen, model, and businesswoman * Erika Heynatz (born 1975), Australian model, actress, singer and television personality * Erika Sawajiri (沢尻エリカ, born 1986), Japanese gravure model, singer and actress * Erika Yazawa (born 1990), Japanese gravure model, actress and member of Idoling!!!

Singers and musicians

* Erica Banks, American rapper * Erica Campbell, (born 1972), American singer most famous from Mary Mary * Erica Packer (born 1975), Australian singer and model * Erika Amato (born 1969), American singer and actress * Erika de Casier (born 1989 or 1990), Danish singer, songwriter, and record producer * Erika Ender (born 1974), Panamanian singer, songwriter and actress * Erika Jayne, dance and electronica artist, actress and television personality * Erika Raum (born 1972), Canadian violinist * Erika Umeda (born 1991), Japanese singer and model, former member of Cute * Erika Vikman (born 1993), Finnish singer and songwriter * Erykah Badu (born 1971), American singer-songwriter, record producer, activist, and actress * Érika Alcocer Luna (born 1974), Mexican singer, winner of the second generation of ''La Academia''

Theatre

* Erika Andia, Bolivian theatre actress, director and journalist * Erika Dickerson-Despenza, American playwright

Voice actresses

* Erica Lindbeck, American voice actress * Erica Luttrell (born 1982), Canadian voice actress * Erika Harlacher (born 1990), American voice actress

Other

* Erica Cornejo, Argentine ballet dancer * Erica Garner (1990–2017), American activist * Erica Hill (born 1976), American journalist * Erica Parsons (1998–2011), American child abuse and murder victim * Erika Aittamaa (1866–1952), Swedish artisan of Tornedalian descent * Erika Allen, co-founder and CEO of Urban Growers Collective * Erika Anderson (engineer) (1989–2023), American mechanical engineer * Erika Billeter (1927–2011), German-born Swiss curator, art historian, writer, and museum director * Erika Cosby, American painter and daughter of Bill Cosby * Erika Costell (born 1993), American YouTuber, model, and singer * Erika Fuchs (1906–2005), German translator * Erika von Brockdorff (1911–1943), German resistance fighter during the Second World War * Erika Wendt (1917–2003), German WWII spy

References

{{given name Japanese feminine given names Swedish feminine given names German feminine given names Swiss feminine given names English feminine given names Finnish feminine given names Danish feminine given names Norwegian feminine given names Icelandic feminine given names Scandinavian feminine given names Spanish feminine given names Portuguese feminine given names Italian feminine given names Estonian feminine given names Feminine given names English-language feminine given names