Dirk
A boys’ name of Old English origin, meaning ruler of the people; a form of Derek.
Babies a year
34
the US, 2017
Rarity
Very rare
among names in use
US popularity
—
outside the top 1000
UK popularity
—
outside the ONS list
Dirk by the numbers
Dirk was given to 34 American babies in 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
Its American peak was 436 babies in 1954, so it is a 1950s name that has since fallen a long way.
Other names that come from Derek
Like Dirk, each of these traces back to Derek: a form of it, a name built from it, or a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Derekruler of the people1,540 in the US (2017)
- Derrickruler of the people; a form of Derek694 in the US (2017)
- Derickruler of the people; a form of Derek166 in the US (2017)
- Dereckruler of the people; variant spelling of Derek145 in the US (2017)
- Derikgifted ruler; variant of Derek25 in the US (2017)
- Darekdear ruler; a form of Derek17 in the US (2017)
- Daricka form of Derek or Derrick, ruler of the people12 in the US (2017)
- Derrekruler of the people; a form of Derek12 in the US (2017)
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Dirk. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Dicka form of Richard, strong ruler
Other names that mean a king or ruler
Like Dirk, each of these has a king or ruler in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Henryruler of the home2,295 in England and Wales (2025)
- Averyruler of the elves10,365 in the US (2017)
- Ryanlittle king; descendent of rian8,422 in the US (2017)
- Aubreyelf ruler; noble strength6,029 in the US (2017)
- Arthurbear; the legendary king3,211 in England and Wales (2025)
- Reaganlittle king3,211 in the US (2017)
Names about as common as Dirk
Nobody has voted for Dirk yet
Vote for Dirk and put it up against all the other baby names
Vote for Dirk