Derrek
Derrek was the 12498th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1987, when it ranked 892nd; the most babies were born in 1989 (128). Over the last ten years it has moved down 7,570 places. More babies were named Derrek in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Derek) ruler of the people (from Theodoric) · Germanic, Dutch
- Rank in 2025
- #12,498 boys, down 7,193 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 5boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1989128 babies
- Total since 1880
- 3,047babies recorded
What does the name Derrek mean?
Derrek is a spelling of Derek, pronounced the same way, so it shares Derek's meaning and origin.
Derek is the English form of Dietrich or Diederik, the Low German and Dutch forms of Theodoric. DMNES derives Theodoric from Gothic thiuda, 'people', and Germanic ric, 'ruler', so 'ruler of the people', and lists kings of the Visigoths and Ostrogoths of the name. Wiktionary says English borrowed Derek from Middle Low German in the Middle Ages and revived it in the 19th century, and Wikipedia agrees. Derrick and Dirk are related forms.
þiuda (Gothic, “people”)rīhhi (Old High German, “ruler”)
How sure is this? Probable.
Related names: Derrick, Dirk, Dietrich, Theodoric.
See also: Germanic names, names that mean king or queen.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Derek', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Derek', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Theodoric', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
Derrek popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #12,498 | 5 |
| 2020 | #5,305 | 17 |
| 2010 | #3,740 | 28 |
| 2000 | #2,753 | 33 |
| 1990 | #960 | 118 |
| 1980 | #1,098 | 68 |
| 1970 | #1,400 | 36 |
| 1960 | #2,452 | 12 |
| 1950 | #3,100 | 7 |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Derrek, counting every spelling?
Derrek is a spelling of Derek, a name family that ranked #195 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #12,498 for Derrek on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,027 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Derek | 1,191 | #284 | 6,039 |
| Derrick | 288 | #850 | 1,768 |
| Dereck | 396 | #688 | 1,434 |
| Derick | 120 | #1,478 | 653 |
| Derik | 27 | #3,973 | 160 |
| Derrek | 5 | #12,498 | 39 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Derrek?
5 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Derrek (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Derrek born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 1,661 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Derrek.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Derrek?
About 2,900 people born in the US named Derrek are alive today, with a median age of 36; half are between 28 and 45. That makes Derrek mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Derrek: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Derrek, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Derrek
What does Derrek mean?
Derrek is a spelling of Derek, which means “ruler of the people (from Theodoric)” (Germanic, Dutch origin). Certainty: probable.
How popular is the name Derrek?
Derrek was the 12498th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 1987, when it ranked 892nd; the most babies were born in 1989 (128). Over the last ten years it has moved down 7,570 places. More babies were named Derrek in the 1980s than in any other decade.
Is Derrek a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Derrek in the US.