Erroll
A boy's name of Scottish Gaelic origin with 822 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A surname.
Erroll is a boy's baby name of Scottish Gaelic origin, a variant of Errol, from the Scottish place name Errol in Perthshire, possibly meaning 'area of arable land.' The name gained widespread recognition through the swashbuckling Hollywood actor Errol Flynn, who embodied dashing adventure in the 1930s and 1940s.
Erroll's double-l spelling emphasizes the name's distinctiveness. Jazz pianist Erroll Garner also bore this spelling, adding a musical dimension to the name's cultural resonance.
EtymologyShow more
Though Erroll dates back to 1915 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded. The Scottish Gaelic classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.
Erroll’s 822 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by hundreds of families.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Erroll has 68+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1915.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 18 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 46 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 95 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 106 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 187 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 210 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 92 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 29 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 27 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 12 | — |
The Story of Erroll
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1959, Erroll is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Boys named Erroll are most likely born between 1949 and 1969.
How rare is Erroll?
With 822 total births on record, Erroll remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1915, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1950s with 210 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Erroll by the numbers
- Would fill 17 school buses
- Meeting one Erroll per day would take 2.3 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(68 years, 1915–2005)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 5 | #11983 |
| 2003 | 7 | #8957 |
| 2002 | 6 | #9747 |
| 1997 | 7 | #7537 |
| 1995 | 5 | #9288 |
| 1994 | 10 | #5586 |
| 1993 | 6 | #7951 |
| 1991 | 11 | #4868 |
| 1990 | 7 | #6643 |
| 1989 | 7 | #6430 |
| 1988 | 9 | #4915 |
| 1987 | 9 | #4679 |
| 1986 | 5 | #7059 |
| 1985 | 10 | #4142 |
| 1984 | 9 | #4306 |
| 1983 | 13 | #3294 |
| 1982 | 8 | #4734 |
| 1981 | 17 | #2707 |
| 1980 | 8 | #4633 |
| 1979 | 8 | #4548 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Erroll a boy's or girl's name?
When was Erroll most popular?
How popular is the name Erroll?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1915–2005