Derek
English from German form of Theodoric
"the people's ruler"Share
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Updated Wed Apr 17 2024
Derek Origin and Meaning
The name Derek is a boy's name of German origin meaning "the people's ruler".
Derek started out as a sophisticated Brit, but the name became so common over the last decades of the twentieth century that it lost much of its English accent, along with its stylish edge. Derek was a Top 100 name in the U.S. for 25 years, from 1970 to 1995.
Derek was introduced into Britain during the Middle Ages by immigrant Flemish weavers. Baseball star Derek Jeter spawned a whole new generation of namesakes.
# 298 in the US
Derek Rank in US Top 1000
# 634 on Nameberry
Derek Rank in Nameberry Top 1000
Derek Popularity
20 Names Similar to Derek
These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Derek.
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Famous People Named Derek
- Derek Sanderson JeterAmerican baseball player
- Derek Chauvinformer American police officer charged with the murder of unarmed Black man George Floyd
- Derek HoughAmerican dancer, actor and singer
- Derek Anthony KlenaAmerican actor and singer
- Derek George JacobiEnglish actor
- Derek Harold Richard BartonEnglish chemist; winner of the Nobel Prize
- Derek Alton WalcottSaint Lucian poet and playwright
- Derek Lamar FisherAmerican basketball player and coach
- Derek Dallas CarrAmerican NFL player
- Derek Matthew AndersonAmerican NFL football player
- Derek HardmanAmerican NFL football player
- Derek Steven HaganAmerican NFL football player
- Derek NewtonAmerican NFL football player
- Derek Sinclair CoxAmerican NFL football player
- Derek LandriAmerican NFL football player
- Derek Christopher LoweAmerican baseball player
- Derek Keith Barbosa aka Chino XLAmerican rapper
- Derek TaylorEnglish journalist and press officer for The Beatles
- Derek DalyIrish racing driver
- Derek RaeScottish football commentator
- Derek Walsh WebbAmerican singer,songwriter of band Caedmon's Call
- Derek ThompsonNorthern Irish actor
- Derek Roland ClarkEnglish MEP
- Derek VaughanWelsh MEP
- Derek Alexander MullerAustralian/Canadian vlogger, focusing on science
- Temuera Derek MorrisonNew Zealand actor
- Derek Krahnsocial media personality 'BigCatDerek'
Derek in Pop Culture
- Derek "McDreamy" Shepherdcharacter on TV's "Grey's Anatomy"
- Derek Bailey Shepherdson of Meredith Grey and Derek Shepherd on the show "Grey's Anatomy"
- Derek Venturimain character on TV's "Life With Derek"
- Derek Halecharacter on TV's "Teen Wolf"
- Derek Morgancharacter on TV's "Criminal Minds"
- Derek Clifford Simmonscharacter in video game "Resident Evil 6"
- Derek Reesecharacter on TV's "The Terminator : The Sarah Connor Chronicles"
- Derek Noakesmain character on British TV series "Derek"
- Derek Vinyardcharacter in film "American History X"
- Derek Malloycharacter on TV's "The Client List"
- Derek SommersPeyton Sawyer Scott's half brother on "One Tree Hill"
- Prince DerekPrincess Odette's love interest in "The Swan Princess"
- Derekcharacter in "Barney's Backyard Gang"
- Derek "Nursey" Nursecharacter in webcomic "Check Please!"
- Derek Ardencharacter in anime "Black Butler"