Derry
Derry is a male given name, often an abbreviation of Diarmuid or its anglicisation Dermot. It can also be a diminutive of Alexander.
- Irish
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 →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- Irish
The Story of Derry
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Derry as a girl name dates back to 1932, when 5 babies received it. 1961 was its biggest year on record, with 12 newborns named Derry — #3,792 in the national rankings. The 1950s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 35% of all recorded Derrys. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 1973 (5 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. 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
The earliest SSA record of Derry as a boy name dates back to 1914, when 6 babies received it. 1957 was its biggest year on record, with 50 newborns named Derry — #1,075 in the national rankings. The 1950s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 22% of all recorded Derrys. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2016 (6 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. 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
Variants & Related Forms of Derry
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Derry. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
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
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How popular is Derry in 2026?
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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.