[Opinions] Real life Erica here
in reply to a message by Perrine
Hi!
I was born in '91, when Erica's popularity (#40) was just starting to fall (Erika was #84). I have a feeling that Erica's popularity in the U.S. outstripped Erika's because it was the spelling Erica Kane used on "All My Children" (which was where my mom first heard the name - I'm essentially named after a soap opera character). So I have a feeling my name will be a little dated when I become a senior citizen, along with Jessica, Brittany, Ashley, Tiffany...
That said, it's not totally unfamiliar nowadays. Both spellings still chart in the Top 1000.
As for when they're kids... well, I've hardly ever heard of a kid who likes their name - they pretty much always think their friends have better names, because they're inherently more novel - but I had difficulty with Erica growing up. It was really easy for bullies to drop the ending -a and call me "Eric" (didn't help that my hair was kept short throughout childhood, because I hated barrettes and hair ties). However, now I can hardly imagine being called anything else, and I often get compliments - especially from people from other countries.
Also, people ALWAYS misspelled my name as Erika, even after they were told it was "with a C." Funnily enough, real-life Erikas I've met have told me that *their* names were always misspelled as Erica. So basically, whichever spelling you choose, be prepared for your daughter's name to constantly be spelled the other way. (I think the same thing is going to happen to the Aidans / Aidens of this generation.)
Please rate my personal name lists:
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/109399
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/91835
http://greens-end.myminicity.com
I was born in '91, when Erica's popularity (#40) was just starting to fall (Erika was #84). I have a feeling that Erica's popularity in the U.S. outstripped Erika's because it was the spelling Erica Kane used on "All My Children" (which was where my mom first heard the name - I'm essentially named after a soap opera character). So I have a feeling my name will be a little dated when I become a senior citizen, along with Jessica, Brittany, Ashley, Tiffany...
That said, it's not totally unfamiliar nowadays. Both spellings still chart in the Top 1000.
As for when they're kids... well, I've hardly ever heard of a kid who likes their name - they pretty much always think their friends have better names, because they're inherently more novel - but I had difficulty with Erica growing up. It was really easy for bullies to drop the ending -a and call me "Eric" (didn't help that my hair was kept short throughout childhood, because I hated barrettes and hair ties). However, now I can hardly imagine being called anything else, and I often get compliments - especially from people from other countries.
Also, people ALWAYS misspelled my name as Erika, even after they were told it was "with a C." Funnily enough, real-life Erikas I've met have told me that *their* names were always misspelled as Erica. So basically, whichever spelling you choose, be prepared for your daughter's name to constantly be spelled the other way. (I think the same thing is going to happen to the Aidans / Aidens of this generation.)
Please rate my personal name lists:
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/109399
www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/91835
http://greens-end.myminicity.com
This message was edited 3/30/2017, 11:55 AM
Replies
I don't think it will be as dated as Ashley or Tiffany, simply because it was less common and for a shorter time :) I didn't know about the soap opera character but that kind of explain why its popularity was so short lived, maybe people forgot about it when the character disappeared.
Hahaha yes I think it would get misspelled a bit, but at least it is easier to say 'no, with a C' than 'no, K-A-Y-T-L-Y-N-N-E' ;) You have a really nice name! I love the flower :)
Hahaha yes I think it would get misspelled a bit, but at least it is easier to say 'no, with a C' than 'no, K-A-Y-T-L-Y-N-N-E' ;) You have a really nice name! I love the flower :)
Thanks, Perrine. :-)
We have a gay friend named Derrick and I started calling him Derricka. He didn't mind.
Funny you should mention that...
My stepbrother's name is Derek, so sometimes when my dad and his mom want to talk to both of us, they say, "Hey, Dereka!" (Or would it be Derica? Hmmmm...) It's basically a family in-joke.
I minded being called Eric in school, though (and really that was just one of many, many taunts - middle school especially was not a good time for me), because I really was quite girly; I just hated hair pieces pulling on my scalp and didn't like makeup back then, mostly because I didn't really know how to use it.
My stepbrother's name is Derek, so sometimes when my dad and his mom want to talk to both of us, they say, "Hey, Dereka!" (Or would it be Derica? Hmmmm...) It's basically a family in-joke.
I minded being called Eric in school, though (and really that was just one of many, many taunts - middle school especially was not a good time for me), because I really was quite girly; I just hated hair pieces pulling on my scalp and didn't like makeup back then, mostly because I didn't really know how to use it.