Derf
An invented name with no precise meaning or origin.
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Derf. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Derf today is around 80 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Derf births was 1954 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Derf. 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
- • The typical person named Derf is about 80 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Derfs were born before 1956.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Derf. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1954
6 babies that year
Average age
80
years old
1954 SSA rank
#3,538
Tracked since 1954
Popularity
Derf: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Derf 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 Derf during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Derf
The name Derf has its origins in the ancient Germanic language, with its earliest recorded usage dating back to the 5th century AD. It is believed to be derived from the Proto-Germanic word "derf," which means "brave" or "courageous." The name was particularly popular among the Frankish and Saxon tribes that inhabited present-day Germany, the Netherlands, and parts of northern France.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Derf was a Frankish chieftain who lived in the late 5th century. Unfortunately, historical records from that time are scarce, and little is known about his life or achievements. However, his name has been mentioned in various chronicles and annals, indicating that it was a name of some significance among the Frankish nobility.
In the 9th century, a monk named Derf lived in the Benedictine monastery of Fulda, located in present-day Hesse, Germany. He was known for his scholarly pursuits and his contributions to the monastery's library. Although his works have not survived to the present day, his name is recorded in the monastery's records, providing evidence of the name's continued use during the Carolingian period.
In the 11th century, a nobleman named Derf von Hohenzollern lived in the region of Swabia, in what is now southern Germany. He was a member of the prominent Hohenzollern family, which later became one of the most powerful dynasties in Europe. Derf von Hohenzollern is mentioned in several chronicles and documents from that time, indicating his importance within the family and the region.
During the 12th century, a Flemish crusader named Derf de Lille participated in the Third Crusade, led by King Richard I of England. De Lille's name is recorded in various accounts of the crusade, and he is believed to have fought bravely in several battles against the Muslim forces in the Holy Land.
In the 14th century, a Dutch merchant named Derf van Haarlem lived in the city of Haarlem, which was a prosperous center of trade and commerce at the time. Van Haarlem is mentioned in various business records and contracts, suggesting that he was a successful and influential figure in the city's mercantile community.
While the name Derf has fallen out of widespread use in modern times, it remains an intriguing part of Germanic linguistic and cultural history, reflecting the values and traditions of the ancient tribes that once inhabited the region.
People
Derf + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Derf 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
Derf: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Derf?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Derf 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 85,688,585 US residents.
Is Derf a common name?
We classify Derf as "Very Rare". It ranks above 6.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Derf most popular?
The single biggest year for Derf was 1954, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Derf is about 80 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 Derf in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Derf a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Derf 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 Derf still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Derf 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 Derf 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 Americans are named Derf?
See how many people share the name Derf on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.