Derek Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
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.
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.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Derek"
Pronunciation
/ˈdɛrɪk/
Origin
Old High German
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.
Meaning
ruler of the people
Language Evolution
Theodoric, Derrick, Derek
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.
Variants & Derivatives
Derrick, Derrek, Deryk
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Derek is perceived as a strong and classic name, often associated with reliability and leadership.
Famous People
Derek Jeter, Derek Jacobi, Derek Hough
Explore More Derek Name Visualizations
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.