Deking
A name of uncertain origin and meaning, possibly of Dutch derivation.
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Deking. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Deking today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Deking births was 2013 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Deking. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Deking. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2013
5 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2013 SSA rank
#12,589
Tracked since 2013
Popularity
Deking: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Deking by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Deking during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Deking
The name Deking is believed to have originated from the Old English language, with roots tracing back to the 5th century AD during the Anglo-Saxon era. It is derived from the Old English words "dēce" meaning ruler or prince, and "ing" which was a common suffix denoting a lineage or descent.
This combination suggests that Deking was originally a title or epithet bestowed upon individuals of noble or royal heritage. It may have been used to distinguish those who held positions of power and authority within the early Anglo-Saxon kingdoms that emerged across what is now known as England.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Deking can be found in the epic poem "Beowulf," which is considered one of the most important works of Old English literature. In this text, there is a character named Deking who is described as a skilled warrior and loyal thane to the legendary hero Beowulf.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Deking appears sporadically in various historical records and chronicles, often associated with members of the nobility or influential families. One notable figure was Deking of Mercia, a powerful ealdorman (earl) who lived during the 9th century and played a significant role in the struggle against the Danish invaders.
As the centuries passed, the name Deking gradually fell out of common usage, but it has been revived and adapted in various forms across different cultures and languages. In the 16th century, there was a Dutch merchant and explorer named Deking van Riebeeck, who was instrumental in establishing the Dutch Cape Colony in present-day South Africa.
Another historical figure bearing the name Deking was a German philosopher and theologian named Johann Deking, who lived from 1635 to 1711 and was known for his works on natural theology and the reconciliation of faith and reason.
In more recent times, notable individuals with the first name Deking include Deking Mestenhauser, an American artist and illustrator born in 1903, and Deking Purnomo, an Indonesian actor and film director born in 1950.
While the name Deking may not be as prevalent today as it once was, its rich historical roots and associations with nobility, leadership, and cultural significance continue to make it a unique and intriguing name with a fascinating lineage.
People
Deking + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Deking as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Deking: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Deking?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Deking going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Deking a common name?
We classify Deking as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Deking most popular?
The single biggest year for Deking was 2013, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Deking is about 13 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Deking in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Deking a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Deking in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Deking still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Deking in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Deking can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people are named Deking?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.