Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Arika
GirlAmerican (modern coinage), Old Norse· “variant of Erika, "ever ruler"”
- Meaning
- variant of Erika, "ever ruler"
- Origin
- American (modern coinage), Old Norse
- Pronunciation
- uh-REE-kuh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #6,142
- US babies 2025
- 19
- Best rank
- #1,454 (1991)
- Peak year
- 1991
Meaning and origin of Arika
Arika is an American (modern coinage) and Old Norse name that is usually said to mean “variant of Erika, "ever ruler"”.
Arika is a variant of Erika, the feminine form of Eric, from the Old Norse Eiríkr, often explained as "ever ruler" or "sole ruler." The A- start matches the way some Americans say the name, with a broader first vowel. It is said uh-REE-kuh, which differs from Erika's usual EHR-ih-kuh and gives Arika a separate sound. Erica, Arica and Ericka are other spellings. Arica is also the name of a port city in northern Chile, though the two are unrelated. The name is uncommon and easy to spell.
Popularity over time
Arika first appears in US Social Security records in 1966. It has never ranked in the national top 1,000, which keeps it genuinely uncommon. Its best national rank was #1,454 in 1991, the same year it reached its highest count of 109 babies. In 2025, 19 babies were named Arika, and it ranked #6,142 nationally. That is 58% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #1,785 in 1980, #2,258 in 2000, #5,623 in 2010, and #6,142 in 2025. Of the 2,453 US girls named Arika since records began, 32% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 1980s come next, with 550 babies. Since 2010, 388 more have been named Arika.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Ashia, Steffanie, Kaitlan, Randa, and Kadie.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Arika ranked highest in California.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| California | #3160 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Arika is usually pronounced uh-REE-kuh, with three syllables. It has five letters, starts with A and ends in “-ka”.
Middle names for Arika
A few middle names that flow with Arika: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Arika
Similar names
Erika Girl
EH-rih-kuh
“ever ruler” · Old Norse
#1,109
Sharika Girl
shuh-REE-kuh
“modern; Sha- with -rika” · American (modern coinage)
rare
Monika Girl
MON-ih-kuh
“variant of Monica, origin uncertain” · Latin
#6,478
Annika Girl
AH-nih-kuh
“grace” · Swedish
#995
Anika Girl
AH-nih-kuh
“grace; pet form of Anna” · Dutch
#955
Alika Unisex
ah-LEE-kuh
“Hawaiian form of Alice or Alexander” · Hawaiian
rare
Abagail Girl
AB-uh-gayl
“my father is joy” · Hebrew
#7,889
Malika Girl
MAH-lih-kuh
“queen” · Arabic
#2,711
Malaika Girl
mah-LY-kuh
“angel” · Swahili
#2,344
Tanisha Girl
tuh-NEE-shuh
“uncertain, modern coinage” · American (modern coinage)
#6,802
Karisma Girl
kuh-RIZ-muh
“variant of Charisma, grace” · American (modern coinage)
#5,035
Adrina Girl
uh-DREE-nuh
“variant of Adriana; from Hadria” · American (modern coinage)
#8,871
Lists that include Arika
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Arika mean?
Arika is an American (modern coinage) and Old Norse name that is usually said to mean “variant of Erika, "ever ruler"”.
What is the origin of the name Arika?
Arika has modern American and Old Norse roots. Arika is a variant of Erika, the feminine form of Eric, from the Old Norse Eiríkr, often explained as "ever ruler" or "sole ruler." The A- start matches the way some Americans say the name, with a broader first vowel.
Is Arika a popular name?
Not especially. Arika ranked #6,142 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Arika a boy or girl name?
Arika is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Arika?
Arika is usually pronounced uh-REE-kuh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings