Boy
Derek
ruler of the people
About Derek
Solid, dependable, and quintessentially masculine—this name has proven its worth across decades of consistent use. There's a no-nonsense quality that suggests reliability and straightforwardness. It evokes someone practical and grounded, the type of person others turn to in challenging situations. The name gained particular prominence in the late twentieth century and maintains recognition without feeling trendy or dated. It works seamlessly in professional environments while remaining approachable in personal contexts. Parents who value traditional masculine names without excessive formality often find this appealing. The strong consonants give it a definitive presence, while the overall sound remains pleasant and unintimidating. It's the kind of name that doesn't draw unnecessary attention but commands quiet respect. For families seeking a classic choice that has stood the test of time while remaining relevant today, this delivers consistency and strength.
Popularity of the Name Derek
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | #714 | #95 | |||
| 1944 | #953 | #99 | |||
| 1945 | #999 | #82 | |||
| 1946 | #988 | #78 | |||
| 1947 | #891 | #82 | |||
| 1948 | #862 | #81 | |||
| 1949 | #641 | #86 | |||
| 1950 | #470 | #94 | |||
| 1951 | #407 | #83 | |||
| 1952 | #364 | #86 | |||
| 1953 | #373 | #100 | |||
| 1954 | #362 | #88 | |||
| 1955 | #330 | #88 | |||
| 1956 | #299 | #79 | |||
| 1957 | #283 | #86 | |||
| 1958 | #256 | #76 | |||
| 1959 | #254 | #77 | |||
| 1960 | #247 | #85 | |||
| 1961 | #205 | #77 | |||
| 1962 | #188 | #83 | |||
| 1963 | #177 | #80 | |||
| 1964 | #172 | #81 | #30 | ||
| 1965 | #167 | #93 | #30 | ||
| 1966 | #141 | #76 | #29 | ||
| 1967 | #123 | #84 | #29 | ||
| 1968 | #122 | #81 | #26 | ||
| 1969 | #109 | #96 | #24 | ||
| 1970 | #77 | #96 | #24 | ||
| 1971 | #63 | #106 | #24 | ||
| 1972 | #67 | #104 | #22 | ||
| 1973 | #69 | #122 | #27 | ||
| 1974 | #74 | #117 | #28 | ||
| 1975 | #83 | #141 | #28 | ||
| 1976 | #84 | #151 | #26 | ||
| 1977 | #84 | #136 | #27 | ||
| 1978 | #75 | #165 | #28 | ||
| 1979 | #72 | #153 | #31 | ||
| 1980 | #50 | #186 | #33 | ||
| 1981 | #53 | #152 | #31 | ||
| 1982 | #50 | #215 | #35 | ||
| 1983 | #51 | #202 | #36 | ||
| 1984 | #52 | #211 | #40 | ||
| 1985 | #56 | #285 | #41 | ||
| 1986 | #57 | #257 | #45 | ||
| 1987 | #54 | #257 | #56 | ||
| 1988 | #53 | #231 | #59 | ||
| 1989 | #54 | #315 | #72 | ||
| 1990 | #54 | #320 | #73 | ||
| 1991 | #59 | #247 | #78 | #66 | |
| 1992 | #62 | #294 | #100 | #68 | |
| 1993 | #67 | #98 | #75 | ||
| 1994 | #77 | #106 | #79 | ||
| 1995 | #83 | #362 | #104 | #85 | |
| 1996 | #101 | #123 | #94 | ||
| 1997 | #106 | #444 | #131 | #96 | |
| 1998 | #110 | #415 | #163 | #109 | |
| 1999 | #113 | #603 | #369 | #138 | #131 |
| 2000 | #121 | #616 | #159 | #126 | |
| 2001 | #132 | #651 | #190 | #136 | |
| 2002 | #139 | #742 | #186 | #123 | |
| 2003 | #149 | #781 | #188 | #155 | |
| 2004 | #157 | #729 | #350 | #235 | #131 |
| 2005 | #172 | #909 | #287 | #154 | |
| 2006 | #159 | #995 | #284 | #152 | |
| 2007 | #142 | #868 | #273 | #131 | |
| 2008 | #159 | #270 | #136 | ||
| 2009 | #168 | #963 | #438 | #143 | |
| 2010 | #171 | #406 | #132 | ||
| 2011 | #181 | #895 | #366 | #139 | |
| 2012 | #182 | #963 | #385 | #140 | |
| 2013 | #205 | #490 | #170 | ||
| 2014 | #205 | #476 | #156 | ||
| 2015 | #211 | #570 | #186 | ||
| 2016 | #226 | #457 | #213 | ||
| 2017 | #239 | #639 | #204 | ||
| 2018 | #256 | #420 | #264 | ||
| 2019 | #305 | #279 | |||
| 2020 | #309 | #303 | |||
| 2021 | #302 | #548 | #375 | ||
| 2022 | #297 | #504 | #425 | ||
| 2023 | #273 | #334 | #378 | ||
| 2024 | #258 | #466 | #472 | ||
| 2025 | #284 | #429 | #519 | ||
| 1917 | #141 | ||||
| 1920 | #122 | ||||
| 1921 | #135 | ||||
| 1922 | #97 | ||||
| 1923 | #115 | ||||
| 1924 | #121 | ||||
| 1925 | #87 | ||||
| 1926 | #109 | ||||
| 1927 | #112 | ||||
| 1928 | #93 | ||||
| 1929 | #94 | ||||
| 1930 | #79 | ||||
| 1931 | #91 | ||||
| 1932 | #94 | ||||
| 1933 | #102 | ||||
| 1934 | #96 | ||||
| 1935 | #94 | ||||
| 1936 | #126 | ||||
| 1937 | #117 | ||||
| 1938 | #115 | ||||
| 1939 | #118 | ||||
| 1940 | #109 | ||||
| 1941 | #87 | ||||
| 1942 | #88 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Derek
Names Similar to Derek
Nicknames for Derek
- Der
- Rick
- Deke
- DJ
- Del
Famous People Named Derek
| Derek Jeter | American former professional baseball player |
| Derek Hough | American dancer and choreographer |
| Derek Fisher | American former professional basketball player |
| Derek Carr | American football quarterback |
| Derek Jacobi | British actor |
| Derek Theler | American actor and model |
| Derek Redmond | British former sprinter |
| Derek Luke | American actor |
| Derek Landy | Irish author, known for the "Skulduggery Pleasant" series |
| Derek Trucks | American guitarist and songwriter |
| Derek Walcott | Saint Lucian poet and playwright, Nobel laureate |
| Derek Sherinian | American keyboardist and composer |
| Derek Anderson | American former professional basketball player |
| Derek Mears | American actor and stuntman |
| Derek Acorah | British television personality and spiritual medium |
| Derek Forbort | Canadian ice hockey player |
| Derek McInnes | Scottish football manager and former player |
| Derek Parfit | British philosopher |
| Derek Bailey | English avant-garde guitarist |
| Derek Fowlds | British actor |
Characters Named Derek
| Derek Shepherd | Character from the TV show "Grey's Anatomy" |
| Derek Blunt | Character from the TV show "Torchwood" |
| Derek Zoolander | Main character in the movie "Zoolander" |
| Derek Vinyard | Character in the movie "American History X" |
| Derek Dunn | Character from the TV show "Degrassi - The Next Generation" |
| Derek C. Simmons | Character from the video game "Resident Evil 6" |
| Derek Kettering | Character from the Agatha Christie novel "The Mystery of the Blue Train" |
| Derek Wills | Character from the TV show "Smash" |
| Derek Reese | Character from the TV show "Continuum" |
| Derek Hale | Character from the TV show "Wolfblood" |
| Derek Taylor | Character from the TV show "One Tree Hill" |
| Derek Zander | Character from the TV show "The Fosters" |
| Derek Nurse | Character from the webcomic and TV show "Check, Please!" |
| Derek Landy | Character from the book series "The Demon Road Trilogy" by Derek Landy |
| Derek Morgan | Character from the book series "Hush, Hush" by Becca Fitzpatrick |