Erica is the feminine of Eric — from the Old Norse *Eiríkr* ("ever-ruler") — also the Latin botanical name for the heather genus (*Erica*, 700+ species native to South Africa, Europe, and the Mediterranean). **A top-50 US baby name from 1979 to 1996, peaking at #25 in 1986**. **Erica Kane** — fictional matriarch of *All My Children* (ABC 1970-2011), played by Susan Lucci across 41 seasons; **Lucci's record 19 consecutive Daytime Emmy nominations without a win became American TV legend, finally ending with her 1999 Best Actress victory** — celebrated with a *Saturday Night Live* skit and a standing ovation at the ceremony. **Erica Jong (born 1942)** — American author; her 1973 novel *Fear of Flying* sold 20+ million copies and is credited with mainstreaming feminist literary discourse in the United States; introduced the phrase "zipless f**k" to American English. **Erica Hill (born 1976)** — American journalist; CNN, NBC, and CBS anchor. **Erica Mena** — *Love & Hip Hop* star. **Erika Christensen** — *Parenthood* actress.
Featured throughout 1970s-2020s American culture.
Erica reduces to two — the number of All My Children.