Éric ['eʁik] is the French form of Eric, a masculine given name derived from Old Norse Eiríkr, composed of the elements ei ("ever, always") and ríkr ("ruler, king"), thus meaning "ever ruler." The name was borne by numerous early Nordic kings and explorers, most notably Eiríkr inn Rauda (Eric the Red), the 10th-century navigator who discovered Greenland. Use in France In French, the name is typically accented Éric, though in older printed materials or in French-speaking Canada and Belgium it sometimes appears without the accent. As with Étienne, Émile, and Édouard, the accent is part of standard French orthography and is retained on capitalized letters. Notable Bearers Among famous French individuals named Éric are footballer Éric Cantona (b. 1966), actor and musician Éric Elmosnino (b. 1964), and footballer Éric Abidal (b. 1979). The composer Erik Satie was born Éric but later used the spelling "Erik." Though the name is common in France, it has also spread to other Francophone regions. Related forms include Erik (Swedish), Èric (Catalan), and Erick (English). Meaning: "ever ruler" Origin: Old Norse via French Type: Given name Usage: French