Boy name
Derek
Derek holds the #284 spot on the 2025 list of the most popular boy names in the U.S. That amounts to 1,191 newborn boys in a single year. The ranking has held remarkably steady over the last five years. Its strongest year on record was 1980 (#50 nationally, 7,240 newborns), in a data series reaching back to 1924. The name's biggest fan base is in Rhode Island (#177 there in 2025).
Rankings
2025 rank
#284
among boy names
Trend
Stable
last 5 years
All-time peak
#50
in 1980 (1980s)
Babies in 2025
1,191
boys named Derek
Derek popularity, 1880–2025
Where Derek is most popular
Share of boys born in 2025:lowhighno data (< 5 births)
Strongest states: Rhode Island (#177), New York (#181), New Jersey (#199)
Uniqueness score
33/ 100Very common
everywhereone of a kind
A familiar pick that most people will recognize instantly. Based on how many babies per birth were named Derek in the most recent year of SSA data.
Similar names
Explore lists