It is believed to have emerged in the late 20th century with the rise of the contemporary body modification movement.

Body piercer Erik Dakota is often credited with popularizing the bridge piercing, reportedly coining the term "Erl" piercing in the 1980s after a client named Erl Van Aken, who was one of the first individuals to wear it regularly*.

The piercing gained traction in alternative and punk subcultures throughout the 1990s, becoming more widely recognized due to increased visibility in body modification publications and online communities*.

Despite this, it continues to be a distinctive form of self-expression among body modification enthusiasts today.

[1] [(Fakir Musafar, *Body Play* Journal, 1990)] [(Pitts, Victoria, *In the Flesh: The Cultural Politics of Body Modification*, 2003)] Bridge piercings are most commonly pierced with straight barbells, although curved barbells and surface bars are also possible initial jewelry.