Home › Baby Names Directory › Erling

Erling

♂ Boy

Pronounced EHR-ling /ˈɛr.liŋ/Medium

Meaning: Descendant of the jarlMedium

In 30 seconds: Erling is a Norwegian boy's name meaning 'descendant of the jarl'. It carries a noble, Old Norse ring.

💕 Browse more names

Origin MediumNorwegian, Swedish, Danish

MeaningDescendant of the jarl

U.S. rank (2025)#4291 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births24 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2023

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,402

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Erling comes from Norwegian and traces to the idea of a descendant of the jarl, a Norse nobleman or chieftain. Its older Norse shape survives in Erlingr, while Erlingur is the Icelandic form. The name has stayed in steady use across the Nordic countries and keeps its links to that aristocratic root.

The clipped '-ing' ending gives Erling a firm, Scandinavian sound. Erling Evensen (1914-1998) is listed among those who carried the name.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Erling is 'descendant of the jarl', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name - Erling — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

ErlingurErlingr

Nicknames

—

Famous Bearers

★Erling Evensen (1914–1998)
Male public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Erling…

Jenson— a fellow Danish choice

Kasper— a similarly popular pick

Rune— a fellow Danish choice

Viggo— a fellow Danish choice

Iver— lands in the same popularity range

Explore names like Erling

By themenorwegian danish

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Erling mean?

Erling is usually explained as meaning 'descendant of the jarl' and is most often linked with Norwegian tradition.

How do you pronounce Erling?

It's commonly said EHR-ling /ˈɛr.liŋ/.

Is Erling a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Erling is used as a boy name.

How popular is Erling?

In 2024, Erling ranked #2915 in the U.S. for boys, with 43 births recorded.