Boy · #3,452 in 2026

Derf

Derf is a nickname. Notable people with the nickname include:Derf Backderf or John Backderf, American cartoonist Derf Scratch (1951–2010), American musician, bass guitarist, former member of the punk rock band Fear

Current Rank
#3,452
Peak Rank
#3,452 (1954)
Total Babies
6
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1954
First Year
1954
Last Year
1954
Peak Year
#3452
Peak Rank
6
Total Count
1
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Derf

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

Derf is a nickname. Notable people with the nickname include:Derf Backderf or John Backderf, American cartoonist Derf Scratch (1951–2010), American musician, bass guitarist, former member of the punk rock band Fear

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

The Story of Derf

Derf first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1954, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1954, when 6 Derfs were born — ranking #3,452 that year. As of 2026, Derf ranks #3,452 for baby boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 6 Derfs have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1950s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Derf

Phonetically similar names — useful when Derf is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Durf
  • Drf
  • Turf
  • Terf
  • Trf
  • Torf
  • Deaf
  • Der
  • Def
  • Dearth
  • Diff
  • Doff

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Derf

What does the name Derf mean?
Derf is a nickname. Notable people with the nickname include:Derf Backderf or John Backderf, American cartoonist Derf Scratch (1951–2010), American musician, bass guitarist, former member of the punk rock band Fear
How popular is Derf in 2026?
In 2026, Derf ranks #3,452 among boys' names in the U.S., with 6 babies given the name that year.
When was Derf most popular?
Derf reached its peak popularity in 1954, ranking #3,452 that year with 6 babies given the name.
Is Derf a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Derf is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Derf?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Derf include Pruitt, Glenny, Ferrin. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

👦
Pruitt
Peak #3452
👦
Glenny
Peak #3452
👦
Ferrin
Peak #3452
👦
Rondie
Peak #3452
👦
Barr
Peak #3452
👦
Kimbel
Peak #3452
👦
Corneall
Peak #3452
👦
Danail
Peak #3452

About the name Derf

Derf is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1954 and has accumulated 6 births in the dataset. Derf's peak popularity came in 1954 when it ranked #3,452. Use the chart and map above to compare Derf's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.