Anglicized form of Theodoric, the Germanic name meaning ruler of the people. Particularly popular in African-American communities in the US from the 1970s onward.
Nicknames
derek · derry · der
Vibe
strong
How it ages.
Peaked in the 1980s; feels mid-to-late 20th century, particularly in the US.
The cultural moment.
Top 50 in the US from the 1970s through the 1990s; declining steadily since.