Hedrick
A Germanic name likely meaning "estate ruler" or "ruler of the flock".
Name Census estimates that about 11 living Americans carry the first name Hedrick. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Hedrick today is around 75 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Hedrick births was 1921 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Hedrick. 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 Hedrick is about 75 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Hedricks were born before 1961.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Hedrick. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
11
~ 1 in 31,159,485 Americans
Peak year
1921
7 babies that year
Average age
75
years old
1958 SSA rank
#4,187
Tracked since 1917
Popularity
Hedrick: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Hedrick from the 1910s through to the 1950s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 18 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Hedrick 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 Hedrick 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 Hedrick
The given name Hedrick originated from the Old English words "hæd" meaning a person's condition or state, and "ric" meaning powerful or ruler. Together, the name can be interpreted as "powerful state" or "powerful condition". This name emerged during the Anglo-Saxon period in England, likely between the 5th and 11th centuries.
The name Hedrick was initially popular among the Anglo-Saxon nobility and ruling classes, as it conveyed a sense of strength and authority. It was often bestowed upon the sons of kings, earls, and other high-ranking individuals as a symbolic representation of their expected roles and responsibilities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hedrick can be traced back to the 7th century, when it appeared in the Ecclesiastical History of the English People by the Venerable Bede, a renowned English monk and scholar. Bede's work contains references to various individuals bearing the name Hedrick, indicating its widespread usage during that era.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Hedrick continued to be prominent among the English aristocracy. Notable historical figures with this name include Hedrick of Wessex (c. 860-888), a Saxon nobleman and military leader who played a crucial role in defending England against Viking invasions.
During the Renaissance period, the name Hedrick experienced a resurgence in popularity. One notable individual was Hedrick Jennings (1508-1587), an English scholar and humanist who served as a tutor to several members of the royal family, including Prince Edward, the future King Edward VI.
In the 17th century, Hedrick Walpole (1676-1745) was a prominent British statesman and the first Prime Minister of Great Britain. His political acumen and leadership during a turbulent period in British history have cemented his legacy as one of the most influential figures of his time.
Another notable bearer of the name was Hedrick Hudson (1701-1786), a renowned English botanist and naturalist. His pioneering work in the field of plant taxonomy and his extensive travels to explore and document the flora of various regions contributed significantly to the advancement of botanical science.
During the 19th century, Hedrick Longfellow (1807-1882), an American poet and educator, gained widespread recognition for his literary works, including the famous narrative poem "The Song of Hiawatha". His contributions to American literature and his influence on subsequent generations of writers have solidified his place as one of the most celebrated poets in American history.
These are just a few examples of the many historical figures who have borne the name Hedrick throughout the centuries, each leaving an indelible mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human history.
People
Hedrick + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Hedrick as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with H
Other first names starting with H with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Hedrick: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Hedrick?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 11 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Hedrick 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 31,159,485 US residents.
Is Hedrick a common name?
We classify Hedrick as "Very Rare". It ranks above 30.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 40 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Hedrick most popular?
The single biggest year for Hedrick was 1921, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Hedrick is about 75 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 Hedrick in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Hedrick a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Hedrick 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 Hedrick still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Hedrick 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 Hedrick 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 Hedrick?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.