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Derrick

♂ Boy

Pronounced DEH-rik /ˈdɛr.ɪk/High

Meaning: Dutch and English form of Theodoric, from Old High German Thiudorich, composed of thiud (people) and ric (power, ruler), meaning 'people's ruler' or 'power of the people'High

In 30 seconds: Derrick is the English and Dutch form of Theodoric, meaning power of the people. A sturdy, familiar name in the United States since the mid-20th century, it carries solid Germanic heritage with a strong, approachable feel.
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Origin HighOld High German, Dutch
MeaningDutch and English form of Theodoric, from Old High German Thiudorich, composed of thiud (people) and ric (power, ruler), meaning 'people's ruler' or 'power of the people'
U.S. rank (2025)#850 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births288 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1980
Total births (all-time)≈ 145,343

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 198019172025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Derrick is the Dutch and English form of Theodoric, from Old High German Thiudorich, combining thiud (people, folk) and ric (power, ruler). Theodoric the Great (454–526 AD), the Ostrogothic king who ruled Italy, was the most famous bearer of this name in antiquity. The Dutch form Diederik produced Derrick as it traveled through the Netherlands into English.

Derrick became popular in the United States in the 20th century, particularly in African American communities, where it ranked consistently in the top 100 boys names from the 1960s through the 1990s. It peaked in the mid-1980s. Basketball player Derrick Rose and various other athletes and entertainers have maintained the name's contemporary recognition.

Did you know? The word derrick — used for a type of crane or hoisting apparatus — derives from the name Derrick, as a reference to Goodman Derrick, a notorious Tyburn hangman in early 17th-century London whose gallows gave the word its mechanical sense.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name — Derrick — Old High German etymology via TheodoricU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

DerekDerickDirk

Nicknames

DeeRick

Famous Bearers

  • ★Derrick Rose (1988–present)
    American professional basketball player who won the NBA Most Valuable Player award in 2011, the youngest player ever to win the award.

If you like Derrick…

Derek— the standard English spelling of the same name
Eric— shares the Old Norse/Germanic -ric (ruler) element and similar sound
Dwayne— same mid-20th-century American masculine naming era and popularity
Terrence— fellow two-syllable strong American masculine classic from the same generation

Frequently Asked

What does the name Derrick mean?

Derrick means power of the people or people's ruler, from Old High German thiud (people) and ric (power).

How do you pronounce Derrick?

It is said DEH-rik, with two syllables.

Is Derrick the same as Derek?

Derrick and Derek are variant spellings of the same name; both are in common use.

Is Derrick a popular name?

Derrick peaked in the U.S. in the mid-1980s and has declined since, but remains a recognized classic.