Deryk
A masculine name of Germanic origin meaning "ruler of the village".
Name Census estimates that about 733 living Americans carry the first name Deryk. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Deryk today is around 32 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Deryk births was 1994 (34 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Deryk. 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
733
~ 1 in 467,605 Americans
Peak year
1994
34 babies that year
Average age
32
years old
2019 SSA rank
#11,108
Tracked since 1959
Popularity
Deryk: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Deryk from the 1950s through to the 2010s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1990s, with 213 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1990s peak, Deryk remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Deryk 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 Deryk during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Deryks live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. Ohio, Texas, California recorded the most babies named Deryk, while Pennsylvania, California, Texas recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 7 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Deryk
The given name Deryk has its origins in the Old English language, with roots tracing back to the 5th century AD. It is derived from the Old English words "deor," meaning "dear" or "beloved," and "ric," meaning "ruler" or "power." Thus, the name Deryk can be interpreted as "beloved ruler" or "powerful leader."
During the Anglo-Saxon era, the name Deryk was primarily used among the ruling classes and nobility in various regions of what is now England. It gained popularity as a name for male heirs to noble households, reflecting the aspirations and expectations associated with the name's meaning.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Deryk can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and population commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. Several individuals with the name Deryk are listed as landowners or tenants in various counties across England.
Throughout history, the name Deryk has been borne by several notable figures. Among them is Deryk Carleton, a 16th-century English author and translator who lived from approximately 1573 to 1638. His most notable work was the translation of the Italian Renaissance poet Ludovico Ariosto's epic poem, "Orlando Furioso," into English.
Another prominent individual with the name Deryk was Deryk Parfit, a British philosopher who made significant contributions to the fields of ethics, rationality, and personal identity. Born in 1942 and passed away in 2017, Parfit was widely renowned for his influential work, including the book "Reasons and Persons."
In the realm of sports, Deryk Engelland, an American professional ice hockey player, achieved notable success. Born in 1982, Engelland played for several teams in the National Hockey League (NHL) and represented the United States in various international competitions.
The name Deryk has also been associated with historical figures in various cultures and regions. For instance, Deryk of Brittany, a 12th-century Breton ruler, played a significant role in the medieval history of northwestern France.
Lastly, Deryk Fletcher, a 15th-century English nobleman and soldier, was a prominent figure during the Wars of the Roses, serving under King Edward IV of England.
People
Deryk + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Deryk 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
Deryk: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Deryk?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 733 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Deryk 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 467,605 US residents.
Is Deryk a common name?
We classify Deryk 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, 759 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Deryk most popular?
The single biggest year for Deryk was 1994, when 34 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Deryk is about 32 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Deryk a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Deryk 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.