Deryle
A masculine name derived from the French surname Déruelle, of uncertain meaning.
Name Census estimates that about 30 living Americans carry the first name Deryle. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Deryle today is around 73 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Deryle births was 1951 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Deryle. 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 Deryle is about 73 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Deryles were born before 1963.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Deryle. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
30
~ 1 in 11,425,145 Americans
Peak year
1951
6 babies that year
Average age
73
years old
1970 SSA rank
#4,890
Tracked since 1932
Popularity
Deryle: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Deryle from the 1930s through to the 1970s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 27 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1950s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Deryle 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 Deryle during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Deryle
The given name Deryle is a unique and relatively uncommon moniker that originated from a blend of two distinct linguistic roots. Its origins can be traced back to the early medieval period, around the 8th or 9th century AD, when it emerged as a variant of the Old English name "Deorwulf," which translates to "Dear Wolf" or "Beloved Wolf."
During the Anglo-Saxon era, names with animal associations were quite prevalent, particularly those featuring wolves, bears, and other powerful creatures revered for their strength and ferocity. The "Deor" element in Deorwulf is derived from the Old English word "deor," meaning "deer" or "wild animal," while the "wulf" component is the Old English word for "wolf."
As the name evolved over the centuries, it underwent various transformations, with the "wulf" portion being replaced by the more modern "le" suffix. This transition likely occurred as a result of linguistic shifts and the influence of Norman French, which introduced new naming conventions after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Deryle can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and wealth commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This historical document mentions a landowner named "Deryle of Wiltshire," indicating that the name was already in use during the late 11th century.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Deryle remained relatively obscure, with few notable figures bearing this moniker. However, in the 16th century, a prominent English playwright and poet named Deryle Jonson (1572-1637) achieved widespread recognition for his works, including the celebrated comedies "Every Man in His Humour" and "Volpone."
Another notable individual was Deryle Wotton (1492-1555), an English diplomat and politician who served as Lord Privy Seal under King Henry VIII. Wotton was known for his diplomatic skills and played a crucial role in negotiating treaties and alliances during the turbulent period of the English Reformation.
In the realm of academia, Deryle Browne (1605-1685), an English mathematician and philosopher, made significant contributions to the fields of geometry and mechanics. His work on the laws of motion and the principles of calculus laid the foundation for the subsequent groundbreaking discoveries of Sir Isaac Newton.
During the 19th century, a notable figure named Deryle Ainsworth (1795-1876) emerged as a prominent industrialist and inventor. Ainsworth's innovations in textile manufacturing machinery revolutionized the industry and paved the way for more efficient and cost-effective production methods.
While the name Deryle has remained relatively uncommon throughout history, its unique blend of Old English and Norman French influences has given it a distinctive character and a rich historical tapestry woven into its linguistic heritage.
People
Deryle + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Deryle 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
Deryle: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Deryle?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 30 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Deryle 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 11,425,145 US residents.
Is Deryle a common name?
We classify Deryle as "Very Rare". It ranks above 46.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 47 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Deryle most popular?
The single biggest year for Deryle was 1951, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Deryle is about 73 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Deryle a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Deryle 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.