Deke
About Deke
Deke is a masculine name with American origins, typically functioning as a nickname derived from names like Deacon or Derek. In some cases, it can also be a standalone given name. The name gained recognition in the United States through sports culture, particularly in baseball and football where it became associated with athletic ability. Deke has a short, strong sound that conveys a sense of confidence and directness. While never extremely common in popularity rankings, the name has maintained a steady presence, particularly in the southern United States. Deke also carries historical connections to NASA, as it was the nickname of astronaut Donald K. Slayton, one of the original Mercury Seven astronauts.
Pronounced DEEK.
As of October 2026, Deke ranked #9179 in US births in 2022 SSA, peaked at #2632 in 1976.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank | Births | Per million |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2017 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2018 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | — | 0 | 0 |
Deke on lists
Famous Dekes
- Donald Kent "Deke" Slayton
American astronaut
- Deke Sharon (born Kurk Richard Toohey
Jr.), American singer and composer
- Roger "Deke" Leonard
Welsh musician of band Man
- Deke Richards (born Dennis Lussier)
American songwriter
Deke in pop culture
- Deacon "Deke" Kaye
from the movie "S.W.A.T."
- Deke
recurring character on "2 Broke Girls"
- Deke Shaw
a character in "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D" season 5,7