Holding steady.
Popularity of Derrel since 1916
Babies named Derrel per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1988, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Derrel's real moment was 1940.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 24 |
| 1920s | 96 |
| 1930s | 153 |
| 1940s | 175 |
| 1950s | 192 |
| 1960s | 157 |
| 1970s | 118 |
| 1980s | 128 |
| 1990s | 90 |
| 2000s | 43 |
| 2010s | 5 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Derrel is a relatively rare given name, first recorded in the U.S. Social Security data in 1916. Its peak year of usage was 1940, during which it saw modest use among American families. Since then, the name has followed a stable trajectory, never achieving widespread popularity but maintaining a quiet presence. As a variant of Darrell, it shares the same derivation from a Norman French surname. The name's consistent but infrequent use over the decades reflects a preference for familiar-sounding, straightforward names. Despite its rarity, Derrel has appeared in every decade since the 1910s, showing a small but persistent appeal.
Derrel is most likely a variant spelling of Darrell, an English surname that originated from the Norman French d'Airelle, meaning 'from Airelle', a place in France. The name was introduced to England after the Norman Conquest and later became used as a given name. Alternatively, Darrell has sometimes been associated with the Old English word 'deorling', meaning 'darling' or 'beloved', though this is less certain.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Derry, Derr
Sibling names for Derrel
Names that share Derrel's style, for a brother or sister.
