Hi!
I was born in '91, when Erica's popularity (#40) was just starting to fall (Erika was #84). I have a feeling that Erica's popularity in the U.S. outstripped Erika's because it was the spelling Erica Kane used on "All My Children" (which was where my mom first heard the name - I'm essentially named after a soap opera character). So I have a feeling my name will be a little dated when I become a senior citizen, along with Jessica, Brittany, Ashley, Tiffany...
That said, it's not totally unfamiliar nowadays. Both spellings still chart in the Top 1000.
As for when they're kids... well, I've hardly ever heard of a kid who likes their name - they pretty much always think their friends have better names, because they're inherently more novel - but I had difficulty with Erica growing up. It was really easy for bullies to drop the ending -a and call me "Eric" (didn't help that my hair was kept short throughout childhood, because I hated barrettes and hair ties). However, now I can hardly imagine being called anything else, and I often get compliments - especially from people from other countries.
Also, people ALWAYS misspelled my name as Erika, even after they were told it was "with a C." Funnily enough, real-life Erikas I've met have told me that *their* names were always misspelled as Erica. So basically, whichever spelling you choose, be prepared for your daughter's name to constantly be spelled the other way. (I think the same thing is going to happen to the Aidans / Aidens of this generation.)
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www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/109399www.behindthename.com/pnl/69381/91835http://greens-end.myminicity.comThis message was edited 3/30/2017, 11:55 AM