Derek is a distinctive choice, ranked #1108 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Derek in their class.
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UK Rank 2024
#1108
US Rank #258
About the Name Derek
Derek is climbing rapidly up the charts, having climbed 527 places in just five years. Its best recorded rank was #464 in 1996 — and current momentum suggests it could challenge that mark again. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Derek is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #258, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Derek
Unlikely. With around 26 UK babies named Derek per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Derek in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Derek is currently rising in popularity in the UK, up 527 places over the last five years to #1108 in 2024. If this trend continues, it will become more common in classrooms over the next decade.
Derek is more popular in the US (#258) than in the UK (#1108). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Derek include: Derek Paravicini — Derek Paravicini is an English savant pianist.; Derek Chauvin — Derek Michael Chauvin is an American former police officer who murdered George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.; Derek Muller — Derek Alexander Muller is a Canadian-Australian science communicator and media personality best known for his YouTube channel Veritasium, which has over 20....
Derek appears in the US top 500 at #258 in 2024 — moderately popular in America, though less so than in the UK.
26
UK babies named Derek (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↑ 527 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Derek
Likely around 1 other Derek in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Derek
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Derek James Fowlds was an English actor. He played "Mr Derek" in The Basil Brush Show, Bernard Woolley in the sitcom Yes Minister and its sequel, Yes, Prime Minister, and Sgt Oscar Blaketon in Heartbeat.
Derek Michael Chauvin is an American former police officer who murdered George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American man, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. On May 25, 2020, Floyd was arrested after a store clerk alleged that he made a purchase using a counterfeit $20 bill.
Derek Alexander Muller is a Canadian-Australian science communicator and media personality best known for his YouTube channel Veritasium, which has over 20 million subscribers and 4.1 billion views as of January 2026.
Peter Derek Vaughan Prince was a Bible teacher whose daily radio programme, Derek Prince Legacy Radio, is broadcast around the world in various languages.
Derek Truyen Tran is an American lawyer and politician who has served as the U.S. representative from California's 45th congressional district since 2025.
Derek Lunsford is an American professional bodybuilder who competes in the men's open bodybuilding division in the IFBB Pro League. He became the 212 Olympia champion in 2021 and the open Mr.