Derek
Complete Name Analysis & Etymology Guide
238,769 Total Births
145 Years of Data
1989 Peak Popularity Year
8,402 Peak Births

Derek Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis

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Summary

Derek is a name of Old High German origin meaning 'ruler of the people'. It evolved from 'Theodoric' to 'Derrick' and eventually to its modern form 'Derek'. The name is characterized by strength and leadership qualities. It has no biblical relevance and gained popularity in the 20th century, becoming widely recognized in English-speaking cultures.

Etymology & Cultural Background of "Derek"

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Pronunciation

/ˈdɛrɪk/

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Origin

Old High German

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Etymology

The name Derek is derived from the Old High German name 'Theodoric', which means 'ruler of the people'. The name was introduced to England by the Normans.

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Meaning

ruler of the people

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Language Evolution

Theodoric, Derrick, Derek

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Historical Usage

Derek gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 20th century, especially in the United Kingdom and the United States, influenced by various cultural factors.

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Variants & Derivatives

Derrick, Derrek, Deryk

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Modern Popularity & Image

Currently, Derek is perceived as a strong and classic name, often associated with reliability and leadership.

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Famous People

Derek Jeter, Derek Jacobi, Derek Hough

📊 Derek Name Trend Analysis

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Boy Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Rising
25-Year Trend: Relatively Stable
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Girl Name Trend

Recent 3-Year Analysis

3-Year Trend: Stable
25-Year Trend: Relatively Stable

Explore More Derek Name Visualizations

✨ Derek Name Meaning & Significance

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Popularity Trend

Highly Popular name with 8,402 peak births in 1989

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Geographic Spread

Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in Hawaii

Historical Span

Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends

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Generational Impact

Influenced 11 different American generations with varying popularity

🔊 Same Pronunciation Names for "Derek" - Complete Guide (11 Names)

Discover the ultimate list of homophone names and same pronunciation names that sound identical to "Derek". These names share the same pronunciation but may have different spellings, offering alternative options for parents seeking similar-sounding names. Whether you're looking for American or British pronunciation variations, this comprehensive guide includes 11 carefully curated names that maintain the same phonetic sound.

Why explore same pronunciation names? Many parents search for homophone names to find alternative spellings that might be more unique or culturally significant. This ultimate list covers both American and British pronunciation patterns, ensuring you find the perfect variation of "Derek" that fits your preferences.

Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Derek"

Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.

Yearly Ranking History of "Derek"

"Derek" Popularity Across American Generations

Generation Gender Rank Total Names
G.I. Generation (1901-1927) Boy 7162nd of 7545 6
Silent Generation (1928-1945) Boy 1453rd of 6773 409
Baby Boomers (1946-1964) Boy 282nd of 7552 12,807
Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) Boy 78th of 10718 57,299
Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) Boy 57th of 16616 106,169
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) Boy 144th of 24088 43,841
Generation Alpha (2013-2024) Boy 256th of 23106 17,329
Baby Boomers (1946-1964) Girl 8038th of 12526 33
Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) Girl 3442nd of 19264 304
Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) Girl 3239th of 27321 506
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) Girl 16178th of 35406 66

Regional Popularity of "Derek" by Generation for Male Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
- - - -
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
70.70%
1093rd/1546
49.04%
763rd/1556
- 47.96%
742nd/1547
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
12.30%
274th/2227
9.51%
231st/2430
12.34%
352nd/2853
8.43%
234th/2775
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
2.66%
78th/2937
1.92%
67th/3483
2.96%
104th/3518
2.03%
82nd/4044
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
1.38%
51st/3685
1.25%
56th/4475
1.17%
61st/5194
1.01%
64th/6317
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
3.12%
143rd/4582
1.88%
97th/5164
2.53%
185th/7313
2.04%
152nd/7463
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
8.48%
338th/3984
4.21%
189th/4487
3.90%
266th/6822
3.82%
240th/6276

Regional Popularity of "Derek" by Generation for Female Names

TOP(%) MidWest Northeast South West
G.I. Generation
(1901-1927)
- - - -
Silent Generation
(1928-1945)
- - - -
Baby Boomers
(1946-1964)
- - - -
Generation X (Gen X)
(1965-1980)
- - - -
Millennials (Gen Y)
(1981-1996)
100.00%
3685th/3685
100.00%
4475th/4475
79.40%
4124th/5194
72.34%
4570th/6317
Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers)
(1997-2012)
- - - -
Generation Alpha
(2013-2024)
- - - -

State-by-State Popularity of "Derek"

This map shows the relative popularity of "Derek" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.

Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends of "Derek" in the United States

The name Derek is most popular in Hawaii, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Derek has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, too falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, too falling for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been falling for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, falling for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Derek' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 7162nd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1453rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 282nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 78th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 57th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 144th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 256th out of 23106 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 8038th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3442nd out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3239th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 16178th out of 35406 names. Discover how the name 'Derek' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.

Infographic: Derek name meaning, origin, and popularity trends in the United States (US baby name analysis chart)
[600x500px image] Etymology and historical popularity of Derek,
Infographic: Derek same pronunciation names, similar names, and homophone names
[600x500px image] Derek same pronunciation names, similar names, and homophone names