Derry: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

–

among boys

Babies in 2025

named Derry

How common

–

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1957

55 babies

All-time total

1,678

#3,880 all-time among boys

First recorded

1914

in Social Security records

Derry popularity over time

1,678 babies have been named Derry since 1914, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

BoysGirls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	20	20	2	–	#2,996
1920s	–	67	67	7	+235%	#2,474
1930s	20	155	175	18	+161%	#1,297
1940s	30	201	231	23	+32%	#1,412
1950s	48	335	383	38	+66%	#1,076
1960s	28	261	289	29	-25%	#1,318
1970s	11	187	198	20	-31%	#1,552
1980s	–	131	131	13	-34%	#2,309
1990s	–	102	102	10	-22%	#3,714
2000s	–	63	63	6	-38%	#6,359
2010s	–	19	19	2	-70%	#9,810
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–	–	–

The story of Derry

Derry is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1914, 1,678 American babies have been named Derry, about 92% boys and 8% girls, making it a genuinely unisex name. Its peak came in 1957, when 55 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1950s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Derry stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Derry?

The median living Derry is about 61 years old; half are between 45 and 70. An estimated 1,200 people named Derry are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Derry year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–	–	–
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	–	–
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	–	–	–	–
2016	–	–	6	#11,066
2015	–	–	7	#9,810
2014	–	–	6	#11,066
2013	–	–	–	–
2012	–	–	–	–
2011	–	–	–	–
2010	–	–	–	–
2009	–	–	–	–
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	–	–	11	#7,217
2006	–	–	9	#8,171
2005	–	–	7	#9,370
2004	–	–	5	#11,803
2003	–	–	11	#6,359
2002	–	–	6	#9,678
2001	–	–	5	#10,995
2000	–	–	9	#6,976
1995	–	–	12	#4,873
1990	–	–	12	#4,467
1985	–	–	23	#2,309
1980	–	–	16	#2,858
1975	–	–	17	#2,468
1970	6	#7,298	30	#1,552
1965	–	–	26	#1,530
1960	5	#6,590	35	#1,346
1955	6	#5,350	29	#1,427
1950	–	–	27	#1,403
1945	–	–	22	#1,420
1940	–	–	14	#1,917
1935	5	#4,363	12	#2,158
1930	–	–	10	#2,644
1925	–	–	7	#3,493
1920	–	–	7	#3,566
1915	–	–	7	#3,157
1910	–	–	–	–
1905	–	–	–	–
1900	–	–	–	–
1895	–	–	–	–
1890	–	–	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Derry, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Derry?

The median living Derry is about 61 years old. Half of all living Derrys are between 45 and 70 years old.

How many people named Derry are alive today?

An estimated 1,200 people named Derry are alive in the United States, based on 1,678 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Derry mean?

From Irish Doire, from doire (“oak grove”), from Old Irish daire (“oak forest”), from Proto-Celtic *daru.

How popular is the name Derry in 2025?

Derry did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Derry?

1,678 babies have been named Derry in the United States since 1914, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Derry most popular?

Derry peaked in 1957, when 55 newborns received the name.

Is Derry a boy or girl name?

Derry is used for both: about 8% of babies named Derry have been girls and 92% boys.

Is the name Derry rising or falling?

Derry is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Names like Derry

Names that sound and feel close to Derry: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Derry with similar names → More names starting with D →