Erving Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: UR-ving /ˈɜrvɪŋ/
Origin: English; German
Meaning: English: sea friend; German: brave friend
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Erving has its roots in Old English, derived from the name "Eorfa," which means "boar" or "warrior." This name evolved through various linguistic stages, transitioning from Old English to Middle English, and eventually influencing the modern form. The name is also thought to be connected to the Old High German name "Erwin," which carries the meaning of "honorable friend" or "friend of the army." The journey into English likely involved the Norman influence on the English language following the Norman Conquest of 1066, where many Germanic names were assimilated into the English lexicon.
Historically, the name Erving can be associated with notable figures, although it is less common than some other names. One significant milestone in the name's history is its appearance in various literary works and documents throughout the Middle Ages, where names derived from Old English and Germanic roots were prevalent.
The name may not have been widely recorded in biblical texts or royal lineages, but it reflects the broader cultural shifts in naming conventions during the medieval period, particularly as the English language began to stabilize. Culturally, the name Erving carries connotations of strength and loyalty, resonating with the warrior aspect of its etymological roots.
The boar, a symbol of courage and ferocity in various cultures, adds a layer of significance to the name. Additionally, diminutive forms such as "Erv" may have emerged in informal contexts, although they are less documented.
Overall, Erving encapsulates a blend of historical depth and cultural symbolism, representing a lineage of names that have endured through centuries.
Famous people named Erving
In this section, you will find notable people named Erving. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Erving who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Erving who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Erving Goffman was a sociologist best known for his works The Presentation of Self in Everyday Life, Stigma, and Frame Analysis.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Erving, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Erving. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Erving was first seen in the United States in 1881.
Erving has ranked as high as #861 nationally, which occurred in 1921, and has been most popular in New York, and California.
In the past 5 years the name Erving has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Erving is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Erving was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Erving (1989)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 6 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Erving.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2013 | 7 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2004 | 11 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2000 | 11 |
| 1999 | 7 |
| 1998 | 7 |
| 1995 | 10 |
| 1994 | 10 |
| 1993 | 8 |
| 1992 | 12 |
| 1991 | 10 |
| 1990 | 15 |
| 1989 | 18 |
| 1988 | 9 |
| 1987 | 14 |
| 1986 | 8 |
| 1985 | 8 |
| 1984 | 9 |
| 1983 | 11 |
| 1982 | 10 |
| 1981 | 8 |
| 1980 | 8 |
| 1979 | 5 |
| 1978 | 6 |
| 1977 | 9 |
| 1976 | 10 |
| 1974 | 6 |
| 1972 | 5 |
| 1970 | 6 |
| 1969 | 7 |
| 1968 | 7 |
| 1967 | 11 |
| 1966 | 9 |
| 1965 | 8 |
| 1960 | 5 |
| 1959 | 9 |
| 1958 | 10 |
| 1957 | 14 |
| 1956 | 12 |
| 1955 | 10 |
| 1954 | 8 |
| 1953 | 7 |
| 1952 | 6 |
| 1951 | 16 |
| 1950 | 10 |
| 1949 | 6 |
| 1948 | 7 |
| 1947 | 10 |
| 1946 | 8 |
| 1943 | 9 |
| 1942 | 5 |
| 1941 | 8 |
| 1940 | 11 |
| 1939 | 7 |
| 1937 | 12 |
| 1936 | 9 |
| 1935 | 7 |
| 1934 | 8 |
| 1933 | 14 |
| 1932 | 15 |
| 1931 | 15 |
| 1930 | 13 |
| 1929 | 8 |
| 1928 | 14 |
| 1927 | 15 |
| 1926 | 16 |
| 1925 | 19 |
| 1924 | 18 |
| 1923 | 21 |
| 1922 | 17 |
| 1921 | 23 |
| 1920 | 14 |
| 1919 | 22 |
| 1918 | 15 |
| 1917 | 16 |
| 1916 | 19 |
| 1915 | 20 |
| 1914 | 8 |
| 1913 | 8 |
| 1912 | 7 |
| 1911 | 9 |
| 1908 | 6 |
| 1907 | 5 |
| 1905 | 6 |
| 1900 | 6 |
| 1895 | 5 |
| 1881 | 7 |