Dirk
Dirk is a boy's name of Dutch origin.
Meaning
Ruler of the people.
Origin and history
Dirk is a traditional Dutch and Low German short form of Theodoric. It gained moderate popularity in the mid-20th century in the United States and remains a recognizable, classic masculine name. Today, it is relatively rare for newborns, with around 100 births recorded in the U.S. in recent years.
Popularity in the United States
10,955 babies in the United States have been named Dirk since 1880. It ranks #1139 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1811.
States where it is most popular
- CA (16.4 %)
- IL (9.9 %)
- OH (7.9 %)
- MI (7.4 %)
- TX (5.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 6 |
| 1920-1930 | 71 |
| 1930-1940 | 188 |
| 1940-1950 | 369 |
| 1950-1960 | 2,688 |
| 1960-1970 | 3,310 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,796 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,156 |
| 1990-2000 | 581 |
| 2000-2010 | 395 |
| 2010-2019 | 279 |
| 2020-2029 | 116 |
Famous people named Dirk
- Dirk Nowitzki: Athlete, Basketball Player
- Dirk Bogarde: Actor, Author
- Dirk Benedict: Actor
Fun facts
- Dirk originated as a Dutch short form of Theodoric, an ancient Germanic name meaning 'ruler of the people'.
- The name saw its highest usage in the United States during the mid-to-late 20th century.