Derrick Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: DER-ik //ˈdɛrɪk//
Origin: English; German
Meaning: English: ruler; German: powerful
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Derrick has its roots in the Old High German name "Theodoric," which is composed of the elements "theud," meaning "people," and "ric," meaning "ruler" or "power." This name evolved through various linguistic stages, transitioning from Old High German to Middle Dutch as "Diederik," and then to the Anglo-Norman form "Derrick." The name entered the English language during the Middle Ages, particularly gaining traction in the 14th century, when it was used in various forms across England and the Low Countries. Historically, the name Derrick is associated with several notable figures, including Saint Theodoric, a 6th-century bishop in the region that is now modern-day France.
The name gained further prominence in the English-speaking world through its association with the executioner’s gallows, known as a "Derrick," named after a 17th-century English hangman, which reflects a more somber aspect of the name's history. This connection, while macabre, illustrates the name's entrenchment in English cultural history.
Culturally, Derrick has been associated with leadership and strength due to its etymological roots. The symbolic meaning of "ruler of the people" resonates with various traditions that emphasize the importance of leadership and governance.
Additionally, the name has various diminutive forms, such as "Derry," which have been used in different contexts, though these are less prominent in historical records. Overall, Derrick's journey through language and history illustrates a blend of cultural significance and linguistic evolution.
Famous people named Derrick
In this section, you will find notable people named Derrick. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Derrick who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Derrick who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Derrick Rose is a professional basketball player best known for playing with the Chicago Bulls, winning the NBA MVP award, and being a three-time NBA All-Star.
Derrick Johnson is a former professional American football linebacker best known for his time with the Kansas City Chiefs and being a two-time Pro Bowler.
Derrick Coleman is a former professional basketball player best known for playing with the New Jersey Nets, winning the NBA Rookie of the Year award, and being a two-time NBA All-Star.
Derrick F. Abell is a notable physicist best known for his contributions to the field of condensed matter physics and his work on quantum mechanics.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Derrick, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Derrick. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Derrick was first seen in the United States in 1917.
Derrick has ranked as high as #149 nationally, which occurred in 1980, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Illinois, New York, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Derrick has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Derrick is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Derrick was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Derrick.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 288 | 288 | 0 |
| 2024 | 308 | 308 | 0 |
| 2023 | 344 | 344 | 0 |
| 2022 | 370 | 370 | 0 |
| 2021 | 458 | 458 | 0 |
| 2020 | 518 | 518 | 0 |
| 2019 | 580 | 580 | 0 |
| 2018 | 610 | 610 | 0 |
| 2017 | 702 | 702 | 0 |
| 2016 | 748 | 748 | 0 |
| 2015 | 835 | 835 | 0 |
| 2014 | 914 | 914 | 0 |
| 2013 | 981 | 981 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1,053 | 1,053 | 0 |
| 2011 | 1,098 | 1,098 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1,038 | 1,038 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1,115 | 1,115 | 0 |
| 2008 | 1,197 | 1,197 | 0 |
| 2007 | 1,295 | 1,295 | 0 |
| 2006 | 1,362 | 1,362 | 0 |
| 2005 | 1,379 | 1,372 | 7 |
| 2004 | 1,330 | 1,324 | 6 |
| 2003 | 1,385 | 1,378 | 7 |
| 2002 | 1,442 | 1,437 | 5 |
| 2001 | 1,455 | 1,455 | 0 |
| 2000 | 1,596 | 1,596 | 0 |
| 1999 | 1,619 | 1,614 | 5 |
| 1998 | 1,756 | 1,756 | 0 |
| 1997 | 1,784 | 1,784 | 0 |
| 1996 | 1,995 | 1,995 | 0 |
| 1995 | 2,199 | 2,190 | 9 |
| 1994 | 2,582 | 2,575 | 7 |
| 1993 | 2,722 | 2,704 | 18 |
| 1992 | 2,921 | 2,914 | 7 |
| 1991 | 3,105 | 3,096 | 9 |
| 1990 | 3,376 | 3,363 | 13 |
| 1989 | 3,457 | 3,442 | 15 |
| 1988 | 3,330 | 3,304 | 26 |
| 1987 | 3,568 | 3,534 | 34 |
| 1986 | 3,365 | 3,326 | 39 |
| 1985 | 3,821 | 3,779 | 42 |
| 1984 | 3,694 | 3,661 | 33 |
| 1983 | 3,689 | 3,656 | 33 |
| 1982 | 3,689 | 3,655 | 34 |
| 1981 | 3,884 | 3,850 | 34 |
| 1980 | 4,171 | 4,135 | 36 |
| 1979 | 3,766 | 3,729 | 37 |
| 1978 | 3,826 | 3,786 | 40 |
| 1977 | 3,521 | 3,481 | 40 |
| 1976 | 2,951 | 2,921 | 30 |
| 1975 | 2,857 | 2,815 | 42 |
| 1974 | 3,000 | 2,958 | 42 |
| 1973 | 3,082 | 3,054 | 28 |
| 1972 | 3,122 | 3,088 | 34 |
| 1971 | 3,607 | 3,582 | 25 |
| 1970 | 3,480 | 3,446 | 34 |
| 1969 | 2,967 | 2,936 | 31 |
| 1968 | 2,618 | 2,595 | 23 |
| 1967 | 2,529 | 2,504 | 25 |
| 1966 | 2,467 | 2,438 | 29 |
| 1965 | 2,434 | 2,422 | 12 |
| 1964 | 2,106 | 2,091 | 15 |
| 1963 | 1,967 | 1,948 | 19 |
| 1962 | 1,594 | 1,579 | 15 |
| 1961 | 1,511 | 1,499 | 12 |
| 1960 | 1,189 | 1,180 | 9 |
| 1959 | 1,187 | 1,179 | 8 |
| 1958 | 1,038 | 1,028 | 10 |
| 1957 | 951 | 945 | 6 |
| 1956 | 816 | 809 | 7 |
| 1955 | 655 | 655 | 0 |
| 1954 | 512 | 507 | 5 |
| 1953 | 359 | 359 | 0 |
| 1952 | 302 | 302 | 0 |
| 1951 | 218 | 218 | 0 |
| 1950 | 171 | 171 | 0 |
| 1949 | 83 | 83 | 0 |
| 1948 | 65 | 65 | 0 |
| 1947 | 46 | 46 | 0 |
| 1946 | 27 | 27 | 0 |
| 1945 | 21 | 21 | 0 |
| 1944 | 23 | 23 | 0 |
| 1943 | 30 | 30 | 0 |
| 1942 | 14 | 14 | 0 |
| 1941 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1940 | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| 1938 | 16 | 16 | 0 |
| 1937 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1936 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1934 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1933 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1932 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 1931 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1930 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 1929 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1928 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1918 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1917 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
Top States for Derrick (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 31 | |
| TX | 31 | |
| FL | 16 | |
| GA | 14 | |
| NY | 14 | |
| MS | 13 | |
| LA | 13 | |
| OH | 12 | |
| PA | 11 | |
| TN | 11 | |
| IL | 11 | |
| IN | 11 | |
| MI | 9 | |
| MD | 8 | |
| SC | 8 | |
| MO | 8 | |
| NC | 8 | |
| VA | 7 | |
| KY | 6 | |
| WI | 6 | |
| NV | 5 | |
| AL | 5 | |
| NJ | 5 | |
| AR | 5 | |
| MA | 5 |