Derek
A boys’ name of Old English origin, meaning ruler of the people.
Babies a year
1,540
the US, 2017
Rarity
Uncommon
among names in use
US popularity
#284
down from #258
UK popularity
#1705
15 babies
How Derek has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2015 | #211 |
| 2016 | #226 |
| 2017 | #239 |
| 2018 | #257 |
| 2019 | #304 |
| 2020 | #310 |
| 2021 | #303 |
| 2022 | #298 |
| 2023 | #271 |
| 2024 | #258 |
| 2025 | #284 |
In 2025, 15 babies in England and Wales were named Derek. In the US, 1,540 were, though that figure is from 2017 — the most recent full year we hold. Its US peak was 8,362 in 1989.
Looking further back: between 1880 and 2008, Derek was most common in 1980, when it went to 0.39% of American babies of that sex.
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