Errol
A boy's name of Scottish Gaelic origin with 8,613 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A male given name transferred from the surname, popularized by American Actor Errol Flynn.
Errol is a boy's baby name of Scottish origin, from the Scottish place name Erroll in Perthshire, of uncertain origin, meaning 'from Erroll' — the village in Scotland from which the surname derives, used as a given name primarily through the fame of the actor who bore it.
With over 8,600 recorded births, Errol is most closely associated with Errol Flynn (1909-1959), the Australian-born Hollywood actor who became the definitive swashbuckling hero of golden-age cinema — starring in The Adventures of Robin Hood, Captain Blood, and The Sea Hawk. Jazz musician Erroll Garner (different spelling) also gave the name considerable musical credibility. The name carries the effortless charisma of the adventure hero.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Errol's final sounds are sharp, distinct — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close. In English-language naming, masculine names frequently end on harder consonants or closed syllables, creating a sense of decisiveness and strength. Errol follows that masculine pattern.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Errol's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Errol was #2800 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #5971, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 74 | #6318 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 275 | #3911 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 358 | #2949 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 648 | #1612 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 901 | #996 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 1,064 | #812 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 1,292 | #674 | ▲ |
| 1950s | 1,197 | #671 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 1,797 | #482 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 691 | #1396 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 196 | #1796 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 109 | #2015 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 11 | #1070 | — |
The Story of Errol
A Silent Generation name
Peaking in 1941, Errol is an elegant vintage name. Boys named Errol are most likely born between 1931 and 1951.
How rare is Errol?
Only about 1 in every 240,000 babies born in 2024 was named Errol — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1896, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1940s with 1,797 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Errol by the numbers
- Would fill 179 school buses
- Meeting one Errol per day would take 23.6 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(115 years, 1896–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 15 | #5971 |
| 2023 | 15 | #6018 |
| 2022 | 8 | #9234 |
| 2021 | 16 | #5618 |
| 2020 | 20 | #4747 |
| 2019 | 23 | #4378 |
| 2018 | 28 | #3816 |
| 2017 | 28 | #3807 |
| 2016 | 25 | #4128 |
| 2015 | 28 | #3811 |
| 2014 | 21 | #4589 |
| 2013 | 39 | #2907 |
| 2012 | 31 | #3468 |
| 2011 | 19 | #4872 |
| 2010 | 33 | #3332 |
| 2009 | 30 | #3578 |
| 2008 | 32 | #3440 |
| 2007 | 32 | #3395 |
| 2006 | 32 | #3334 |
| 2005 | 39 | #2763 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Errol a boy's or girl's name?
When was Errol most popular?
How popular is the name Errol?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1896–2024