Derek Name Meaning, Origin & Gender

Derek Name at a Glance

Name	Derek
Meaning	Gifted ruler. People ruler. Variant of the Old German TheodoricFamous bearer: Derrick was a 17th century hangman at Tyhurn, whose name became synonymous with 'gallows' and now refers to a type of crane.'Gifted ruler.' From Theodoric.
Origin	English
Gender	Boy

What Does the Name Derek Mean?

According to the information recorded in our baby name database, Derek means “Gifted ruler. People ruler. Variant of the Old German TheodoricFamous bearer: Derrick was a 17th century hangman at Tyhurn, whose name became synonymous with 'gallows' and now refers to a type of crane.'Gifted ruler.' From Theodoric”. Name meanings can vary between languages, regions and naming traditions, so families may also wish to confirm a meaning within the cultural or linguistic context that matters to them.

Derek Name Origin

Our database records Derek under English origin. Browse more English baby names to compare other names in the same origin collection.

Is Derek a Boy or Girl Name?

In our database, Derek is listed as a boy name. Usage can differ across countries, languages and families.

Choosing the Name Derek

When considering Derek for a baby, you may want to compare its recorded meaning and origin with family traditions, pronunciation, spelling, initials, middle names and how the full name sounds with the family name.