Derek
Boy name · #284 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Derek? In official American birth records, Derek has been tracked continuously since 1924, giving it 101 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Derek against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Derek in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Derek is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". 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. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Derek is most common in NY (1.3 per 1,000), NJ (1.2 per 1,000), CT (1.2 per 1,000), MD (1.2 per 1,000), NE (1.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.8 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Derek is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
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
How old is the name Derek?
In official American birth records, the name Derek first appeared in 1924 (over 101 years ago), when 6 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 101 years.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.