Baby Name Popularity Profile

Derek

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Derek.

✦ Ruler of the people 🌍 German traditional
National Rank (2025) #284
All-Time Peak Rank #50 Achieved 1980
Total U.S. Births 239,060 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 99.9% Boy / 0.1% Girl Male Archetype
First Recorded 1924 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 1980s 8,365 births in 1989
💡 The Derek Vibe: Considered a Declining Classic. A previously dominant name currently experiencing a prolonged generational cooling period.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Ruler of the people
Language Origin German
Origin Type single
Derived from the Germanic name Theodoric, composed of elements meaning 'people' (theud) and 'ruler' (ric).
Common Nicknames
Der Rick Ricky
Alternative Spellings
Derick Derrick Deryck
Pronunciation: DEH-rik
Themes & Categories
traditional
Etymology confidence: High

📖 The Story Behind Derek

According to SSA data, Derek achieved its highest historical rank of #50 in 1980. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1989 with 8,365 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 36.8%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 97 consecutive years.

📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Derek across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Rising
10-Year Shift -36.8% Decline
18801920196020002025

📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 8,365 births in 1989
Years in Top 100 26 yrs
Years in Top 500 76 yrs
Registry Streak 97 yrs
Historical Volatility Highly Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 0
1890s: 0
1900s: 0
1910s: 0
1920s: 12
1930s: 155
1940s: 533
1950s: 5,245
1960s: 19,021
1970s: 38,310
1980s: 72,923
1990s: 50,756
2000s: 27,025
2010s: 17,978
2020s: 7,102

📐 Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables De-rek
Letter Count 5 letters
Spelling Complexity Moderate
Length Percentile Longer than 7.7% of names
Linguistic Profile: Longer than 7.7% of SSA names. Starts with D, a letter used by only 6.6% of SSA names.

🛠️ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

Enter a surname or sibling name to test how it pairs with Derek.

📍 Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Hawaii
Top States Hawaii, Alaska, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Utah
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Hawaii Unranked 1,524 1963 Insufficient historical volume
Alaska Unranked 657 1982 Insufficient historical volume
New Hampshire Unranked 1,453 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Rhode Island #187 1,433 1988 Insufficient historical volume
Utah #269 3,193 1980 Insufficient historical volume
Massachusetts #277 8,971 1971 Insufficient historical volume
Maine Unranked 1,569 1989 Insufficient historical volume
Nevada #530 1,182 1990 Insufficient historical volume
Minnesota #315 6,439 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Washington #408 5,516 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Colorado #253 4,008 1982 Insufficient historical volume
Idaho Unranked 1,319 1984 Insufficient historical volume
Oregon #359 2,944 1988 Insufficient historical volume
South Dakota Unranked 1,087 1987 Insufficient historical volume
North Dakota Unranked 1,087 1985 Insufficient historical volume
Arizona #314 3,792 1989 13.8% Decline
Kansas #478 3,156 1990 Insufficient historical volume
Wyoming Unranked 399 1983 Insufficient historical volume
Nebraska #251 2,156 1990 Insufficient historical volume
Indiana #344 6,818 1989 Insufficient historical volume
Montana Unranked 864 1984 Insufficient historical volume
Michigan #493 10,595 1989 32.0% Decline
Florida #210 9,557 1988 +15.7% Growth
Wisconsin #290 5,379 1988 Insufficient historical volume
California #302 26,723 1989 16.9% Decline
Iowa #600 3,509 1987 Insufficient historical volume
New Mexico #325 1,397 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Vermont Unranked 437 1982 Insufficient historical volume
Missouri #442 5,530 1990 Insufficient historical volume
District of Columbia Unranked 1,109 1971 Insufficient historical volume
Connecticut #212 2,589 1989 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma #433 3,180 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Maryland #214 3,480 1989 Insufficient historical volume
Louisiana #432 4,111 1980 Insufficient historical volume
Ohio #382 10,412 1990 +3.6% Growth
Virginia #307 5,076 1987 3.6% Decline
New Jersey #201 5,891 1990 2.0% Decline
Kentucky #307 3,674 1987 Insufficient historical volume
Pennsylvania #277 11,025 1990 Stable
West Virginia Unranked 1,916 1991 Insufficient historical volume
Delaware Unranked 415 1989 Insufficient historical volume
Texas #229 15,448 1987 +27.2% Growth
Illinois #281 9,852 1983 +50.0% Growth
New York #183 15,380 1989 +21.3% Growth
Tennessee #399 3,959 1989 Insufficient historical volume
North Carolina #316 5,088 1980 +40.7% Growth
Arkansas Unranked 1,900 1990 Insufficient historical volume
Georgia #269 4,434 1990 +64.3% Growth
Alabama #489 2,597 1980 Insufficient historical volume
Mississippi #482 1,582 1980 Insufficient historical volume
South Carolina #234 1,754 1989 Insufficient historical volume

👨‍👩‍👧 Sibling Name Suggestions

👦 Brother Suggestions
Bryan Joel Justin Marcus Aaron Jesse Jaime Corey Lamar Jamar
👧 Sister Suggestions
Sara Rachel Nina Nicole Andrea Joanna Rebecca Mallory Vanessa Sarah

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Demographic & Volume Peers
Derik Derrick Derick Derrek Deepak Darek Deryk Darik Dante Dereck
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