Declining since 1988, #7,194 for boys today.
Popularity of Deric since 1952
Babies named Deric per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 92 |
| 1960s | 556 |
| 1970s | 951 |
| 1980s | 1,028 |
| 1990s | 1,011 |
| 2000s | 664 |
| 2010s | 366 |
| 2020s | 76 |
Meaning & origin
Deric is a variant spelling of Derek, which itself derives from the Germanic Theodoric, meaning 'people's ruler'. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1952 and saw its peak popularity in 1980. Since 1988, its usage has been steadily declining; by 2025, it ranked 7194, with approximately 1 in 155,280 newborn boys receiving the name. While Deric has never broken into the top 1000 nationwide, it remains a recognizable alternative to the more common Derek.
Deric is a variant spelling of Derek, which itself is an English short form of the Germanic name Theodoric. Theodoric combines 'þeudo' (people) and 'rīc' (ruler), giving the name its meaning of 'people's ruler'. The name was introduced to England by the Normans and has been used in various forms since the Middle Ages. The spelling Deric emerged in the 20th century, likely as a simplified or modernized variant.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Rick, Derry
Sibling names for Deric
Names that share Deric's style, for a brother or sister.
