Erica

Erica has two distinct naming connections. As a feminine form of Eric, it belongs to a Norse name family associated with lasting rule. It is also the Italian word for heather and a botanical name, giving it an independent flower connection. These histories explain why different families may attach different meanings to the same spelling.

Erika is a close alternative when the Eric relationship is central. Writer Erica Jong and the fictional Erica Kane in All My Children are recognizable bearers of this spelling. A family choosing Erica for the plant may prefer to tell that botanical story directly, rather than combining it with the separate ruler interpretation.