When was Derek most popular?

The name Derek reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.

What are the origins of the name Derek Latham?

The name Derek Latham combines two different traditions: the first name Derek has Germanic roots, while the surname Latham originates from Norse.

Derek Latham — Name Meaning, Origin & Statistics

Derek Latham is a name that combines Germanic origins. The first name Derek is a masculine given name of Germanic origin. Derek is a masculine given name. It is the English language short form of Diederik, the Low Franconian form of the name Theodoric. Theodoric is an old Germanic name with an original meaning of "people-ruler" or "lead the people". Common variants of the name are Derrek, Derik, Deryck (included here), as well as Derrick and Derick. The English form of the name arises in the 15th century, via import from the Low Countries. The native English (Anglo-Saxon) form of the name was Deoric or Deodric, from Old English Þēodrīc, but this name had fallen out of use in the medieval period. The surname Latham: Latham (pronounced 'lay-thm') is an Old Scandinavian surname. Origins and variants The surname may derive from a place called "Latham". The word is related to a "(place of or by) the barns", related to the Old Norse hlatha, barn. Lathom in Lancashire is recorded as "Latune" in the Domesday Book of 1086 which is related to the region of Latium, and in the 1201 Pipe Rolls of the county as "Lathum". "Laytham" in East Yorkshire appears as "Ladone" in the Domesday Book. Derek is a distinctive first name, carried by approximately 168K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Derek reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Derek

Meaning: ruler of the people

Germanic

Derek is a masculine given name. It is the English language short form of Diederik, the Low Franconian form of the name Theodoric. Theodoric is an old Germanic name with an original meaning of "people-ruler" or "lead the people". Common variants of the name are Derrek, Derik, Deryck (included here), as well as Derrick and Derick. The English form of the name arises in the 15th century, via import from the Low Countries. The native English (Anglo-Saxon) form of the name was Deoric or Deodric, from Old English Þēodrīc, but this name had fallen out of use in the medieval period.

Surname: Latham

Norse

Latham (pronounced 'lay-thm') is an Old Scandinavian surname. Origins and variants The surname may derive from a place called "Latham". The word is related to a "(place of or by) the barns", related to the Old Norse hlatha, barn. Lathom in Lancashire is recorded as "Latune" in the Domesday Book of 1086 which is related to the region of Latium, and in the 1201 Pipe Rolls of the county as "Lathum". "Laytham" in East Yorkshire appears as "Ladone" in the Domesday Book.

Geographic Distribution

The first name Derek is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 51%

United Kingdom 27%

Australia 12%

Canada 10%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Derek by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Derek Latham:

8

Expression Number

Ambition and material success. Represents power, business acumen and the drive to achieve significant goals.

3

Soul Urge Number

Creativity and self-expression. Associated with artistic flair, optimism and sociability — a natural communicator.

5

Personality Number

Freedom and adaptability. A dynamic, versatile personality that embraces change and seeks new experiences.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Derek?: The first name Derek originates from Germanic. Derek is a masculine given name. It is the English language short form of Diederik, the Low Franconian form of the name Theodoric. Theodoric is an old Germanic name with an original meaning of "people-ruler" or "lead the people". Common variants of the name are Derrek, Derik, Deryck (included here), as well as Derrick and Derick. The English form of the name arises in the 15th century, via import from the Low Countries. The native English (Anglo-Saxon) form of the name was Deoric or Deodric, from Old English Þēodrīc, but this name had fallen out of use in the medieval period.
When was Derek most popular?: The name Derek reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Latham?: The surname Latham originates from Norse. Latham (pronounced 'lay-thm') is an Old Scandinavian surname. Origins and variants The surname may derive from a place called "Latham". The word is related to a "(place of or by) the barns", related to the Old Norse hlatha, barn. Lathom in Lancashire is recorded as "Latune" in the Domesday Book of 1086 which is related to the region of Latium, and in the 1201 Pipe Rolls of the county as "Lathum". "Laytham" in East Yorkshire appears as "Ladone" in the Domesday Book.
What are the origins of the name Derek Latham?: The name Derek Latham combines two different traditions: the first name Derek has Germanic roots, while the surname Latham originates from Norse.