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Home › Baby Names Directory › Dirk

Dirk

♂ Boy

Pronounced DURK /ˈdɜrk/High

Meaning: A Dutch short form of Diederik/Theodoric — from Germanic theod, 'people', plus ric, 'ruler; power'; 'ruler of the people; powerful ruler'Low

In 30 seconds: Ruler of the people; powerful ruler: Dirk is the Dutch Diederik. Crisp, strong, and warm (said 'DURK').
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Origin LowGermanic, Dutch
MeaningA Dutch short form of Diederik/Theodoric — from Germanic theod, 'people', plus ric, 'ruler; power'; 'ruler of the people; powerful ruler'
U.S. rank (2025)#4747 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births21 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1954
Total births (all-time)≈ 10,956

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195419182025

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

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Dirk is a Dutch short form of Diederik/Theodoric — from Germanic theod, 'people', plus ric, 'ruler; power' — 'ruler of the people; powerful ruler' (the word for a Scottish dagger, a 'dirk', is unrelated). A crisp, strong name (said 'DURK').

In the U.S. it appears in Dutch and German families. Rare, ruler-of-the-people at the root, and strong.

Did you know? Theodoric joins the Germanic theod, 'people', with ric, 'ruler' — 'ruler of the people' — Dirk is its crisp Dutch short form, strong and sleek (actor Dirk Bogarde; said 'DURK').
Overall data confidence 52%
References — Dirk — Dutch form of Diederik

Variations

DerkDiederikTheodoric

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Dirk…

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Dirk mean?

Dirk is a Dutch short form of Diederik/Theodoric — Germanic 'ruler of the people; powerful ruler'.

How do you pronounce Dirk?

It's said DURK /ˈdɜrk/ — one syllable.

Is Dirk a boy or girl name?

Dirk is a boy's name.

How popular is Dirk?

Dirk is a rare name in the U.S.

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