-
Derek Name Origin: English
-
Pronunciation: dair-ik
-
Share your thoughts about Derek
Derek Name Meaning
The name Derek is thought to mean “ruler of the people.” This is a fitting meaning for a name that has come to represent strength, confidence, and leadership.
Origins of the Name Derek
The name Derek is of Germanic origin, and it is thought to be a variant of the name Theodoric. Theodoric was a common name in medieval Germany, and it is made up of two Old Germanic elements, “þeud,” meaning “people,” and “rīc,” meaning “ruler.”
Popularity of the Name Derek
The popularity of the name Derek has fluctuated over the years, but it has remained a popular choice for boys’ names throughout the 20th century. In 2020, Derek ranked #739 in popularity for boys’ names in the United States, according to the Social Security Administration.
Famous Dereks
There have been several famous people named Derek throughout history, including Derek Jeter, a former Major League Baseball player, and Derek Jacobi, a British actor. However, perhaps the most famous Derek of all is Derek Zoolander, the fictional male model played by Ben Stiller in the movie “Zoolander.”
Final Thoughts on the Name Derek
So there you have it! The name Derek is a classic, stylish, and timeless name that has been around for centuries. Whether you’re a fan of Germanic culture, strong and confident names, or simply looking for a name that is both traditional and fashionable, Derek is a great choice. With its rich history, cultural significance, and continued popularity, Derek is a name that is sure to stand the test of time.
Infographic of Derek name meaning, which is Derived from Dederick, Derek is an English name meaning ruler of the people.
Ask your friends & family about Derek…
Derek Name Popularity
How popular is the name Derek? Here’s everything we know.
| Year |
Rank |
# Births |
% Births |
| 1910 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1911 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1912 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1913 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1914 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1915 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1916 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1917 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1918 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1919 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1920 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1921 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1922 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1923 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1924 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1925 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1926 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1927 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1928 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1929 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1930 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1931 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1932 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1933 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1934 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1935 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1936 |
1,132 |
9 |
0.0009% |
| 1937 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1938 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1939 |
996 |
12 |
0.0012% |
| 1940 |
1,148 |
9 |
0.0008% |
| 1941 |
— |
0 |
0% |
| 1942 |
950 |
18 |
0.0014% |
| 1943 |
773 |
35 |
0.0027% |
| 1944 |
1,028 |
12 |
0.001% |
| 1945 |
1,369 |
5 |
0.0004% |
| 1946 |
1,033 |
15 |
0.001% |
| 1947 |
948 |
22 |
0.0013% |
| 1948 |
845 |
29 |
0.0018% |
| 1949 |
646 |
70 |
0.0044% |
| 1950 |
487 |
144 |
0.0089% |
| 1951 |
414 |
224 |
0.0132% |
| 1952 |
368 |
303 |
0.0174% |
| 1953 |
378 |
295 |
0.0167% |
| 1954 |
357 |
367 |
0.0201% |
| 1955 |
335 |
448 |
0.0244% |
| 1956 |
301 |
581 |
0.0308% |
| 1957 |
283 |
641 |
0.0333% |
| 1958 |
255 |
892 |
0.0472% |
| 1959 |
254 |
956 |
0.0503% |
| 1960 |
248 |
1,018 |
0.0537% |
| 1961 |
204 |
1,387 |
0.0735% |
| 1962 |
187 |
1,593 |
0.0868% |
| 1963 |
177 |
1,621 |
0.0903% |
| 1964 |
172 |
1,574 |
0.0894% |
| 1965 |
167 |
1,781 |
0.1089% |
| 1966 |
141 |
2,090 |
0.1339% |
| 1967 |
123 |
2,439 |
0.1607% |
| 1968 |
122 |
2,455 |
0.1635% |
| 1969 |
108 |
2,923 |
0.1897% |
| 1970 |
77 |
4,149 |
0.2607% |
| 1971 |
63 |
4,677 |
0.3112% |
| 1972 |
67 |
4,144 |
0.3043% |
| 1973 |
69 |
3,930 |
0.3031% |
| 1974 |
74 |
3,637 |
0.2798% |
| 1975 |
83 |
3,182 |
0.2476% |
| 1976 |
84 |
3,165 |
0.2456% |
| 1977 |
82 |
3,447 |
0.2557% |
| 1978 |
75 |
3,804 |
0.2829% |
| 1979 |
72 |
4,204 |
0.2981% |
| 1980 |
50 |
7,248 |
0.4957% |
| 1981 |
53 |
6,478 |
0.4407% |
| 1982 |
50 |
6,989 |
0.4677% |
| 1983 |
51 |
6,983 |
0.4732% |
| 1984 |
52 |
6,972 |
0.4687% |
| 1985 |
56 |
6,659 |
0.4387% |
| 1986 |
57 |
6,900 |
0.4571% |
| 1987 |
54 |
8,247 |
0.5404% |
| 1988 |
53 |
8,070 |
0.5179% |
| 1989 |
54 |
8,362 |
0.5182% |
| 1990 |
54 |
8,075 |
0.4872% |
| 1991 |
59 |
6,893 |
0.4229% |
| 1992 |
62 |
6,292 |
0.3942% |
| 1993 |
67 |
5,756 |
0.3692% |
| 1994 |
77 |
5,082 |
0.3311% |
| 1995 |
83 |
4,452 |
0.2954% |
| 1996 |
100 |
3,916 |
0.2615% |
| 1997 |
106 |
3,670 |
0.2481% |
| 1998 |
110 |
3,410 |
0.2278% |
| 1999 |
113 |
3,181 |
0.2124% |
| 2000 |
121 |
3,210 |
0.2101% |
| 2001 |
132 |
3,005 |
0.1994% |
| 2002 |
138 |
2,781 |
0.1856% |
| 2003 |
148 |
2,742 |
0.1802% |
| 2004 |
156 |
2,539 |
0.1666% |
| 2005 |
172 |
2,405 |
0.1573% |
| 2006 |
159 |
2,642 |
0.1687% |
| 2007 |
142 |
2,841 |
0.1801% |
| 2008 |
158 |
2,483 |
0.1607% |
| 2009 |
170 |
2,281 |
0.1526% |
| 2010 |
170 |
2,274 |
0.1578% |
| 2011 |
182 |
2,127 |
0.1493% |
| 2012 |
181 |
2,100 |
0.1474% |
| 2013 |
204 |
1,853 |
0.1301% |
| 2014 |
204 |
1,860 |
0.1277% |
| 2015 |
209 |
1,860 |
0.1278% |
| 2016 |
225 |
1,695 |
0.1176% |
| 2017 |
238 |
1,521 |
0.109% |
| 2018 |
259 |
1,360 |
0.099% |
| 2019 |
302 |
1,074 |
0.0793% |
| 2020 |
309 |
1,010 |
0.0793% |
| 2021 |
306 |
1,046 |
0.0856% |
| 2022 |
297 |
1,123 |
0.0851% |
District of Columbia (DC)
Data via SSA.gov.
Names Like Derek
If you like Derek, you’ll love these other names like Derek.
What names are variants of Derek?
Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Derek.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Darek
|
Power of the tribe
|
German
|
|
|
|
Darrick
|
A short variant form of Theodore.
|
American
|
|
|
|
Darriq
|
Power of the tribe
|
German
|
|
|
|
Dereck
|
Power of the tribe
|
German
|
|
|
|
Deric
|
Power of the tribe
|
German
|
|
|
|
Derick
|
Power of the tribe
|
German
|
|
|
|
Derik
|
Power of the tribe
|
German
|
|
|
|
Deriq
|
Power of the tribe
|
German
|
|
|
|
Derk
|
Power of the tribe
|
German
|
|
|
|
Derreck
|
Power of the tribe
|
German
|
|
|
|
Derrek
|
Power of the tribe
|
German
|
|
|
|
Derrick
|
Power of the tribe
|
German
|
|
|
|
Derrik
|
Power of the tribe
|
German
|
|
|
|
Derryck
|
Power of the tribe
|
German
|
|
|
|
Derryk
|
Power of the tribe
|
German
|
|
|
|
Deryck
|
Power of the tribe
|
German
|
|
|
|
Deryk
|
Power of the tribe
|
German
|
|
|
|
Deryke
|
Power of the tribe
|
German
|
|
|
|
Dirk
|
A Dutch equivalent of Theodoric.
|
Danish
|
|
|
|
Dirke
|
Power of the tribe
|
German
|
|
|
|
Dyrk
|
Power of the tribe
|
German
|
|
|
What names sound like Derek?
If you like how Derek sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Derek.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Dierck
|
|
Danish
|
|
|
|
Dirck
|
Power of the tribe
|
German
|
|
|
|
Tarek
|
Evening caller
|
Arabic
|
|
|
What names are similar to Derek?
Find a name that’s like Derek, but just a little bit different.
| Name |
Meaning |
Origin |
Popularity |
Other Gender |
|
Darroch
|
Strong; oak-hearted
|
Irish
|
|
|
|
Dedrick
|
Power of the tribe
|
German
|
|
|
|
Derry
|
Oak grove
|
Irish
|
|
|
|
Dietrich
|
German equivalent of Theodoric.
|
German
|
|
|
|
Jerrick
|
|
American
|
|
|
Lists With Derek
Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Derek.
