Erika Kirk's Real Name: Erika Lane Frantzve

Quick answer: Erika Kirk's birth name is Erika Lane Frantzve. She was born on November 20, 1988.

Real name and early life

The Independent reports she was born Erika Lane Frantzve on November 20, 1988, raised in a Catholic family in the Scottsdale, Arizona, area, and attended Notre Dame Preparatory High School before studying political science and international relations at Arizona State University. As a teen she founded the Arizona nonprofit Everyday Heroes Like You. She played college basketball at Regis University and won Miss Arizona USA in 2012, competing at Miss USA.

Quick facts

• Real name / birth name: Erika Lane Frantzve
• Known as: Erika Kirk
• Born: November 20, 1988
• Known for: Podcaster, entrepreneur; CEO of Turning Point USA
• Notable work: Podcast Midweek Rise Up; Turning Point USA leadership
• Sources checked: AP News, The Independent, Arizona Foothills Magazine

Career highlights

Before national political headlines she built faith-oriented media and business projects, including the podcast Midweek Rise Up, clothing brand Proclaim Streetwear, and ministry project Bible in 365. She married Turning Point USA co-founder Charlie Kirk in May 2021; the couple has two children.

After Charlie Kirk was shot and killed at a Utah Valley University event in September 2025—as reported by AP News—Turning Point USA named Erika Kirk its new CEO and board chair. AP coverage confirmed the board's unanimous vote; she publicly vowed to continue the organization's work. Category note: she is listed here primarily as a podcaster/public figure and organizational leader.

Name notes

Erika Lane Frantzve is her birth name; Erika Kirk is her married name. We do not invent middle-name variants beyond what Independent reporting states. Fan sites often copy names from one another, so we checked this page against AP News and The Independent.