Derek
Boy name · #284 in 2025 · Uniqueness 47/100
Derek ranks #284 among American boys' names as of 2025, with 1,191 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #211, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,511 boys born in 2025 was named Derek.
The 101-year story
Derek first appears in the Social Security records in 1924, when 6 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1989, when 8,365 boys were named Derek — good for #54 that year. Today's parents encounter it on its way down the popularity curve, which for many parents is exactly the appeal. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Derek per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Derek against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Derek in class?
Derek scores 47 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Derek is most common
Geography matters for names, and Derek is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Dereks were TX (173), CA (123), NY (108), FL (103), NJ (49). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Derek
Statistically, parents drawn to Derek tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Casey, Bryan, Justin, Marcus, and Travis.
CaseyBryanJustinMarcusTravisErikJesseSean
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Derek | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,191 | #284 |
| 2024 | 1,357 | #258 |
| 2023 | 1,240 | #273 |
| 2022 | 1,156 | #297 |
| 2021 | 1,095 | #302 |
| 2020 | 1,063 | #309 |
| 2019 | 1,115 | #304 |
| 2018 | 1,409 | #256 |
| 2017 | 1,546 | #239 |
| 2016 | 1,716 | #226 |
| 2015 | 1,885 | #211 |
| 2014 | 1,881 | #205 |
| 2013 | 1,875 | #205 |
| 2012 | 2,116 | #182 |
| 2011 | 2,142 | #181 |
| 2010 | 2,293 | #170 |
| 2009 | 2,309 | #168 |
| 2008 | 2,488 | #159 |
| 2007 | 2,854 | #142 |
| 2006 | 2,647 | #159 |
| 2005 | 2,420 | #172 |
| 2004 | 2,545 | #157 |
| 2003 | 2,754 | #149 |
| 2002 | 2,787 | #139 |
| 2001 | 3,007 | #132 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Derek a popular boy name?
Derek ranked #284 among boys in 2025 with 1,191 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #211.
When was the name Derek most popular?
Derek peaked in 1989, when 8,365 American boys received the name (ranked #54 that year). Since 1989 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Derek?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,511 newborn American boys was named Derek. It scores 47/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.