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.
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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 — 9 0.0009%
1937 — 0 0%
1938 — 0 0%
1939 — 12 0.0012%
1940 — 9 0.0008%
1941 — 0 0%
1942 — 18 0.0014%
1943 — 35 0.0027%
1944 — 12 0.001%
1945 — 5 0.0004%
1946 — 15 0.001%
1947 — 22 0.0013%
1948 — 29 0.0018%
1949 — 70 0.0044%
1950 — 144 0.0089%
1951 — 224 0.0132%
1952 — 303 0.0174%
1953 — 295 0.0167%
1954 — 367 0.0201%
1955 — 448 0.0244%
1956 — 581 0.0308%
1957 — 641 0.0333%
1958 — 892 0.0472%
1959 — 956 0.0503%
1960 — 1,018 0.0537%
1961 — 1,387 0.0735%
1962 — 1,593 0.0868%
1963 — 1,621 0.0903%
1964 — 1,574 0.0894%
1965 — 1,781 0.1089%
1966 — 2,090 0.1339%
1967 — 2,439 0.1607%
1968 — 2,455 0.1635%
1969 — 2,923 0.1897%
1970 — 4,149 0.2607%
1971 — 4,677 0.3112%
1972 — 4,144 0.3043%
1973 — 3,930 0.3031%
1974 — 3,637 0.2798%
1975 — 3,182 0.2476%
1976 — 3,165 0.2456%
1977 — 3,447 0.2557%
1978 — 3,804 0.2829%
1979 — 4,204 0.2981%
1980 — 7,248 0.4957%
1981 — 6,478 0.4407%
1982 — 6,989 0.4677%
1983 — 6,983 0.4732%
1984 — 6,972 0.4687%
1985 — 6,659 0.4387%
1986 — 6,900 0.4571%
1987 — 8,247 0.5404%
1988 — 8,070 0.5179%
1989 — 8,362 0.5182%
1990 — 8,075 0.4872%
1991 — 6,893 0.4229%
1992 — 6,292 0.3942%
1993 — 5,756 0.3692%
1994 — 5,082 0.3311%
1995 — 4,452 0.2954%
1996 — 3,916 0.2615%
1997 — 3,670 0.2481%
1998 — 3,410 0.2278%
1999 — 3,181 0.2124%
2000 — 3,210 0.2101%
2001 — 3,005 0.1994%
2002 — 2,781 0.1856%
2003 — 2,742 0.1802%
2004 — 2,539 0.1666%
2005 — 2,405 0.1573%
2006 — 2,642 0.1687%
2007 — 2,841 0.1801%
2008 — 2,483 0.1607%
2009 — 2,281 0.1526%
2010 — 2,274 0.1578%
2011 — 2,127 0.1493%
2012 — 2,100 0.1474%
2013 — 1,853 0.1301%
2014 — 1,860 0.1277%
2015 — 1,860 0.1278%
2016 — 1,695 0.1176%
2017 — 1,521 0.109%
2018 — 1,360 0.099%
2019 — 1,074 0.0793%
2020 — 1,010 0.0793%
2021 — 1,046 0.0856%
2022 — 1,123 0.0851%
2023 — 1,214 0.0938%

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California (CA)

Colorado (CO)

Connecticut (CT)

District of Columbia (DC)

Delaware (DE)

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Georgia (GA)

Hawaii (HI)

Iowa (IA)

Idaho (ID)

Illinois (IL)

Indiana (IN)

Kansas (KS)

Kentucky (KY)

Louisiana (LA)

Massachusetts (MA)

Maryland (MD)

Maine (ME)

Michigan (MI)

Minnesota (MN)

Missouri (MO)

Mississippi (MS)

Montana (MT)

North Carolina (NC)

North Dakota (ND)

Nebraska (NE)

New Hampshire (NH)

New Jersey (NJ)

New Mexico (NM)

Nevada (NV)

New York (NY)

Ohio (OH)

Oklahoma (OK)

Oregon (OR)

Pennsylvania (PA)

Rhode Island (RI)

South Carolina (SC)

South Dakota (SD)

Tennessee (TN)

Texas (TX)

Utah (UT)

Virginia (VA)

Vermont (VT)

Washington (WA)

Wisconsin (WI)

West Virginia (WV)

Wyoming (WY)

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.

1 Comment

  1. Derek is a name I have always liked growing up, but what really sealed the deal were two things. One a student I had my first year of teaching was named Derek. He was actually one of my harder students but we had developed such a great relationship and he became such an amazing student that he became one of my favorites of all time (he still comes to visit me to this day!). The second reason is that there is a family member on my husbands side who was named Derek and passed at a young age and when my husband learned of this it made him like my name chose of Derek more!

    Reply

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