Derrick
Boy name · #852 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Derrick? In official American birth records, Derrick has been tracked continuously since 1917, giving it 108 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 288 baby boys were named Derrick, placing it at #852 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #384, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 6,250 boys born in 2025 was named Derrick.
Babies named Derrick per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 108-year story
Derrick first appears in the Social Security records in 1917, when 5 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1980, when 4,135 boys were named Derrick — good for #74 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Derrick against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Derrick in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Derrick is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Derrick will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Derrick is most common
Geography matters for names, and Derrick is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Derrick is most common in LA (0.6 per 1,000), MD (0.5 per 1,000), AL (0.5 per 1,000), GA (0.4 per 1,000), NC (0.3 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Derrick is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Derrick
Statistically, parents drawn to Derrick tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Derick, Roderick, Cedrick, Patrick, and Nick.
DerickRoderickCedrickPatrickNickErikCedricDustin
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Derrick | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 288 | #850 |
| 2024 | 308 | #813 |
| 2023 | 344 | #757 |
| 2022 | 370 | #713 |
| 2021 | 458 | #606 |
| 2020 | 518 | #549 |
| 2019 | 580 | #494 |
| 2018 | 610 | #479 |
| 2017 | 702 | #442 |
| 2016 | 748 | #421 |
| 2015 | 835 | #384 |
| 2014 | 914 | #353 |
| 2013 | 981 | #330 |
| 2012 | 1,053 | #313 |
| 2011 | 1,098 | #300 |
| 2010 | 1,038 | #307 |
| 2009 | 1,115 | #296 |
| 2008 | 1,197 | #285 |
| 2007 | 1,295 | #267 |
| 2006 | 1,362 | #254 |
| 2005 | 1,372 | #245 |
| 2004 | 1,324 | #248 |
| 2003 | 1,378 | #243 |
| 2002 | 1,437 | #236 |
| 2001 | 1,455 | #232 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Derrick?
In official American birth records, the name Derrick first appeared in 1917 (over 108 years ago), when 5 newborn boys received the name. It has been tracked in modern national records for 108 years.
Is Derrick a popular boy name?
Derrick ranked #852 among boys in 2025 with 288 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #384.
When was the name Derrick most popular?
Derrick peaked in 1980, when 4,135 American boys received the name (ranked #74 that year). Since 1980 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Derrick?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 6,250 newborn American boys was named Derrick. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.