Holding steady.
Popularity of Derris since 1951
Babies named Derris per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1990, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Derris's real moment was 1980.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 44 |
| 1960s | 22 |
| 1970s | 72 |
| 1980s | 125 |
| 1990s | 96 |
| 2000s | 42 |
| 2010s | 15 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Derris is an extremely rare masculine name in the United States, first recorded in 1951. Its peak usage occurred in 1980, though it never ranked among the top 1000 names. The name has maintained a stable but very low level of use since then, with no strong regional concentration. The etymology remains uncertain, but its sound aligns with other short, crisp names like Morris and Ellis.
Derris is a name of obscure origin. It may be a variant of the Greek name Dêrris, but this is not well-attested. Alternatively, it might derive from an English surname, itself derived from a place name. The name has been in rare use in the United States since the mid-20th century, peaking modestly in the 1980s.
Sibling names for Derris
Names that share Derris's style, for a brother or sister.
