Derry
Derry is a male given name, often an abbreviation of Diarmuid or its anglicisation Dermot. It can also be a diminutive of Alexander.
Meaning & Origin of Derry
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Derry is a male given name, often an abbreviation of Diarmuid or its anglicisation Dermot. It can also be a diminutive of Alexander.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Derry
As a girl name
Derry first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1932, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1961, when 12 Derrys were born — ranking #3,792 that year. As of 2026, Derry ranks #8,423 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 137 Derrys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1930s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Derry first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1914, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1957, when 50 Derrys were born — ranking #1,075 that year. As of 2026, Derry ranks #10,743 for boys with 6 births, with steady use. In total, more than 2K Derrys have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Derry
Phonetically similar names — useful when Derry is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Derry
What does the name Derry mean?
How popular is Derry in 2026?
When was Derry most popular?
In which U.S. states is Derry most popular?
Is Derry a unisex name?
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About the name Derry
Derry is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1914 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Derry's peak popularity came in 1957 when it ranked #1,075. Use the chart and map above to compare Derry's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1957 →
- Names of the 1950s →
- Names starting with "D" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
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.