Dereka
A girl's name of Germanic origin with 422 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
third-person singular single-possession possessive of derék
Dereka is a girl's baby name of Germanic origin, a feminine form of Derek or Derrick, from the Old High German Theodoric meaning 'ruler of the people.' The -a ending creates a flowing feminine version of the strong masculine name.
Dereka has the bold, direct character of names that give girls the power of their masculine counterparts. It's Derrick made feminine and flowing — a name that carries genuine Germanic leadership meaning in a form that sounds both strong and graceful.
EtymologyShow more
Dereka appeared in SSA records in 1971, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly began breaking from generational naming patterns, experimenting with spelling, and treating naming as a form of creative self-expression. Its Germanic roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.
With only 422 recorded births, Dereka has not been widely studied in naming literature — its story belongs primarily to the families who chose it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Dereka has 38+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1971.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 31 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 96 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 162 | ▲ |
| 1980s | 108 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 25 | — |
The Story of Dereka
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 1997, Dereka is a name that defines a generation. Girls named Dereka are most likely born between 1987 and 2007.
How rare is Dereka?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Dereka is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1971, peaked in the 1990s with 162 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Dereka by the numbers
- Would fill 9 school buses
- Meeting one Dereka per day would take 1.2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(38 years, 1971–2018)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 5 | #16306 |
| 2017 | 5 | #16501 |
| 2014 | 10 | #10342 |
| 2013 | 6 | #15111 |
| 2010 | 5 | #17716 |
| 2009 | 8 | #12740 |
| 2008 | 5 | #18254 |
| 2007 | 9 | #11893 |
| 2006 | 15 | #7980 |
| 2005 | 6 | #14976 |
| 2004 | 12 | #8852 |
| 2003 | 11 | #9207 |
| 2002 | 8 | #11406 |
| 2001 | 9 | #10335 |
| 2000 | 13 | #7701 |
| 1999 | 12 | #7856 |
| 1998 | 18 | #5638 |
| 1997 | 22 | #4702 |
| 1996 | 15 | #6145 |
| 1995 | 15 | #6041 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dereka a boy's or girl's name?
When was Dereka most popular?
How popular is the name Dereka?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1971–2018