Derryl
Anglicized spelling of Old French name "Derile" with uncertain meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 726 living Americans carry the first name Derryl. It is a predominantly male name (98.4% of registrations). The average person named Derryl today is around 59 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Derryl births was 1962 (44 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Derryl. 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.
People living today
726
~ 1 in 472,113 Americans
Peak year
1962
44 babies that year
Average age
59
years old
2008 SSA rank
#4,802
Tracked since 1934
Gender
Gender distribution for Derryl
Derryl leans heavily male at 98.4% of total registrations, but 15 girls have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Derryl as a male name
- Ranked #11,413 in 2008
- 6 male births in 2008
- Peak: 1962 (44 births)
Derryl as a female name
- Ranked #4,802 in 1949
- 6 female births in 1949
- Peak: 1947 (9 births)
Popularity
Derryl: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Derryl from the 1930s through to the 2000s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 290 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Derryl 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 Derryl during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Derryls live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, Illinois, Texas recorded the most babies named Derryl, while Texas, Illinois, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 14 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Derryl
The name Derryl is a relatively modern name, originating from a blend of the more traditional names Derrick and Terrell. It first emerged in English-speaking countries, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom, in the mid-20th century.
The name Derryl does not have a direct etymological connection to any specific language or culture. Instead, it was likely created as a unique combination of sounds, drawing inspiration from the existing names Derrick and Terrell. Derrick is derived from the Germanic name Theoderic, which means "people ruler," while Terrell has its roots in the Old French name Terri, meaning "to cultivate land."
There are no known ancient texts, religious scriptures, or historical records that specifically mention the name Derryl. Its relatively recent origin means that it does not have a long history or associations with notable figures from earlier eras.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Derryl is Derryl Cousins, an American professional basketball player born in 1956. He played in the NBA for teams like the Milwaukee Bucks and the Kansas City Kings during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Another notable person with the name Derryl is Derryl Gainer, an American football player born in 1959. He played as a wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams and the San Diego Chargers in the NFL during the 1980s.
Derryl Parke, born in 1964, is an American writer and poet known for his work exploring themes of identity, race, and queer culture. He has published several collections of poetry, including "Awaye Assions" and "A Sphinxian Forpsalmedic."
Derryl Yeager, born in 1956, is a former professional baseball player from the United States. He played as a catcher in the Major League Baseball (MLB) for teams like the Chicago White Sox and the Texas Rangers in the 1980s.
Derryl Elliston, born in 1964, is a Canadian artist and sculptor known for his large-scale public art installations. Some of his notable works include "Shattered Vessel" in Vancouver and "Synapse" in Toronto.
While the name Derryl has been used by various individuals throughout the latter half of the 20th century, it has not achieved widespread popularity or recognition as a common given name. Its unique blend of sounds and relatively modern origins contribute to its distinctive character.
People
Derryl + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Derryl 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
Derryl: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Derryl?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 726 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Derryl 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 472,113 US residents.
Is Derryl a common name?
We classify Derryl as "Very Rare". It ranks above 87.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 916 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Derryl most popular?
The single biggest year for Derryl was 1962, when 44 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Derryl is about 59 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Derryl a male name?
Yes, 98.4% of people registered as Derryl 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.
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.