Given name & surname
Arik
“ever the ruler”·“a lioness of God”·“a lion of God”
Arik is a variant of Aric. In Scandinavian use, Aric carries the interpretation “ever the ruler.” In English use, Arik is a diminutive of Ariel. Interpretations include “a lioness of God” (Hebrew) and “a lion of God” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Arik is a variant of Aric. In Scandinavian use, Aric carries the interpretation “ever the ruler.” In English use, Arik is a diminutive of Ariel. Interpretations include “a lioness of God” (Hebrew) and “a lion of God” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Arik is a diminutive of Ariel. An origin associated with Ariel is Hebrew. Arik connects to the Eric name family through Aric. An origin associated with Eric is Old Norse.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Arik is a diminutive of Ariel.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1965. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Arik through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,613
- 2,613 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 2000
- 81 babies
- 2025
- 35
- #3,316 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −25%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 35 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 3,316 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 25.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 81 in 2000. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,301 as a first name in 2020; 138 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Arik’s family of names
In English usage, Arik is a diminutive of Ariel. Arik has a related form in Aric.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 2
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Arik
- Arik EinsteinIsraeli singer (1939-2013)
- Arik MarshallAmerican musicianborn 1967
- Arik BrauerAustrian painter, graphic artist, stage designer, singer and poet (1929–2021)
- Arik AschermanAmerican rabbiborn 1959
- Arik ArmsteadAmerican football player (born 1993)
- Arik BraunGerman chess playerborn 1988
- Arik ShivekIsraeli basketball coachborn 1956
- Arik Levyartist and industrial designer (born 1963)
- Arik YankoIsraeli footballerborn 1991
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Arik, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.