How Many People Are Named Derek?
Complete statistics for the name Derek: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Derek means 'ruler of the people' and it's an uncommon male name. That's just 1 in 1,477 Americans who share it, making it pretty rare. The name peaked in popularity back in 1989 with 8,402 births.
📖 Meaning & Origin
People with the name Derek often resonate with the life path number 7, which symbolizes spiritual growth and introspection.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 38All 238,769 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1989Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Declining
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Derek Through the Generations
Over the decades, Derek has seen its fair share of ups and downs. In 1989, it reached its peak with 8,402 births, but since then, it's been on a steady decline. Today, there are around 223,457 people named Derek living in the US, with most falling into the 30-60 age bracket. This shows that while the name isn't as popular as it once was, it still holds a special place among those born in the late 20th century.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
⭐ Famous People Named Derek
Derek is a masculine given name. It is the English language short form of Diederik, the Low Franconian form of the name Theodoric. Theodoric is an old Germanic name with an original meaning of "people-ruler" or "lead the people".…
Full list on Wikipedia →🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Derek's Old English roots
📄 About the Name Derek
How Many People Have the Name Derek?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 243 people in the United States currently share the name Derek. That works out to roughly 1 in every 1,363,989 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Derek a Common or Rare Name?
Derek is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Derek Mean?
Derek means "ruler of the people" and comes from Old English origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 7.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Derek in SSA data, approximately 100% are male and 0% are female.
When Was Derek Most Popular?
The name Derek reached peak popularity in 1989, with 8,402 babies registered that year. Current trend: Declining.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Derek?
Approximately 243 people named Derek live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 243. That works out to roughly 1 in 1,363,989 Americans.
Is Derek a rare name?
Derek is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 1,363,989 Americans has this name.
What does the name Derek mean?
Derek means "ruler of the people" and comes from Old English origins.
Is Derek more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 100% of people named Derek are male and 0% are female.
When was Derek most popular?
Derek peaked in 1989 with 8,402 births that year. Current trend: Declining.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.