Derek Baby Name: Meaning, Origin, Middle Name Pairings & More

Derek is a British name that originated during the Middle Ages from Germany. It originally had a harsh British sound, but that has been lost with the introduction of the name in America. There are many alternative spellings of Derek too, ranging from Derrick to Deric.

Meaning of the name Derek:

German: the people's ruler
English: people ruler

Origin of the name Derek:

Derek is a British name that originates from the classical German name, Theodoric. Flemish weavers came to Great Britain during the Middle Ages, bringing with them the name that would become Derek. Originally, the old English version of Theodoric was Dederick, but this changed to just Derek.

Symbolism of the name Derek:

Derek has the same meaning as Theodoric, an old German name. Theodoric actually serves as the original basis for the name as immigrants brought it to England.

Style of the name Derek:

Traditional

Gender of the name Derek:

Derek is a strong name for boys.

Pronunciation of the name Derek:

DEHR-ik

Number of syllables in the name Derek:

Two

Emotion evoked from the name Derek:

Derek is a strong first name. It feels noble and refined.

Alternative spellings for the name Derek:

• Derrick 
• Deric 
• Derrek 
• Derick
• Dereck 

Nicknames for the name Derek:

• Erick
• Rick 
• Ricky 
• Dek
• Dare
• Derry
• Drekie

Popularity of the name Derek:

The baby name Derek became a top 1,000 name in 1943 at number 714. From 1970 to 1995, it was a top 100 name, ranking at number 50 in 1980 and 1982. In more recent years, the name has descended in popularity, ranking at 311 in 2020.

Related names for the name Derek:

• Darren
• Brett 
• Dex
• Cody 
• Dominic 
• Darian
• Garrett 

Great middle names for Derek and their meanings:

• James (supplanter)
• Anthony (priceless one, highly praiseworthy)
• Shane (God is gracious)
• Wesley (western meadow)
• Marshall (horsekeeper)
• Julian (young at heart)
• Travis (to cross over)

Famous people with the name Derek:

• Derek Jeter (MLB player)
• Derek Hough (professional dancer)
• Derek Klena (actor, “Anastasia”)
• Derek Jacobi (actor, “I, Claudius”)
• Derek Walcott (songwriter, “A Far Cry from Africa”)
• Derek Fisher (NBA coach)
• Derek Anderson (NFL player)

Dereks in popular culture:

• Derek Shepherd (character from “Grey's Anatomy”)
• Derek Venturi (character from “Life with Derek”)
• Derek Hale (character from “Teen Wolf”)
• Derek Simmons (character from “Resident Evil 6” video game)
• Derek Reese (character from “The Terminator”)
• Derek Vinyard (character from “American History X”)