Dirk
Borrowed from Dutch and North German Dirk.
Every Dirk since 1918 — 10,955 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Dirk
Dirk is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #4,747 in 2025 with 21 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1918, 10,955 American babies have been named Dirk. Its peak came in 1954, when 438 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 Dirk stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Dirk year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21 | #4,747 |
| 2024 | 12 | #6,936 |
| 2023 | 20 | #4,924 |
| 2022 | 19 | #5,075 |
| 2021 | 19 | #4,973 |
| 2020 | 25 | #4,046 |
| 2019 | 31 | #3,589 |
| 2018 | 18 | #5,154 |
| 2017 | 34 | #3,331 |
| 2016 | 24 | #4,226 |
| 2015 | 25 | #4,105 |
| 2014 | 27 | #3,819 |
| 2013 | 26 | #3,889 |
| 2012 | 27 | #3,824 |
| 2011 | 40 | #2,916 |
| 2010 | 27 | #3,839 |
| 2009 | 38 | #3,064 |
| 2008 | 42 | #2,843 |
| 2007 | 43 | #2,772 |
| 2006 | 46 | #2,595 |
| 2005 | 50 | #2,340 |
| 2004 | 27 | #3,477 |
| 2003 | 47 | #2,286 |
| 2002 | 25 | #3,477 |
| 2001 | 33 | #2,820 |
| 2000 | 44 | #2,231 |
| 1995 | 49 | #1,785 |
| 1990 | 82 | #1,206 |
| 1985 | 112 | #852 |
| 1980 | 148 | #714 |
| 1975 | 159 | #650 |
| 1970 | 342 | #442 |
| 1965 | 302 | #446 |
| 1960 | 363 | #417 |
| 1955 | 377 | #371 |
| 1950 | 94 | #707 |
| 1945 | 33 | #1,142 |
| 1940 | 20 | #1,532 |
| 1935 | 19 | #1,603 |
| 1930 | 13 | #2,209 |
| 1925 | 12 | #2,471 |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Dirk
- Dirk Benedict Actor · b. 1945
- Dirk Bogarde Actor · 1921–1999
- Dirk III, Count of Holland Politician · 982–1039
- Dirk Kuyt Soccer player · b. 1980
- Dirk V, Count of Holland Politician · 1053–1091
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Dirk mean?
Borrowed from Dutch and North German Dirk.
How popular is the name Dirk in 2025?
Dirk ranked #4,747 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 21 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Dirk?
10,955 babies have been named Dirk in the United States since 1918, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Dirk most popular?
Dirk peaked in 1954, when 438 newborns received the name.
Is Dirk a boy or girl name?
Dirk is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Dirk rising or falling?
Dirk is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Dirk?
Well-known people named Dirk include Dirk Benedict (actor), Dirk Bogarde (actor), Dirk III, Count of Holland (politician).