NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Derren

An anglicized form of the Irish "Dearán" meaning "little great one".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2014. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Derren is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Derren popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2014 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2964, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2004, with 23 births.

This profile covers 157 England and Wales registrations across 16 recorded years from 1996 to 2014. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 26% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 224 living people in the UK are called Derren. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2015 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Derren ranked #2964 for boys in England and Wales in 2014, with 6 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2004, when 23 boys were registered as Derren.
  • Derren ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #686 in 2015.
  • About 224 living people in the UK are estimated to have Derren as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 97.5% of Derren registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#2964

2014

Births in 2014

6

Latest year

Peak year

2004

23 births

Estimated living

224

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Derren

In England and Wales birth records, Derren has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 97.5% of registrations are for boys and 2.5% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

98% boys
Boys157 (97.5%)Girls4 (2.5%)

Derren registered for boys

  • Ranked #2,964 in 2014
  • 6 boys registered in 2014
  • Peak: 2004 (23 births)

Derren registered for girls

  • Ranked #3,174 in 1997
  • 4 girls registered in 1997
  • Peak: 1997 (4 births)

Meaning

What does Derren mean?

The name Derren is believed to have its origins in the Welsh language, with roots dating back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Welsh word "deryn," which means "bird" or "fowl." This connection to avian imagery suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals with a particular affinity for nature or a perceived resemblance to the grace and freedom of birds.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Derren can be found in the Annales Cambriae, a medieval Welsh chronicle dating back to the 10th century. It mentions a figure named "Derren ap Rhodri," which translates to "Derren, son of Rhodri," who was a nobleman from the Kingdom of Gwynedd in northwest Wales.

During the Middle Ages, the name Derren seems to have been primarily concentrated in Welsh-speaking regions, particularly in the northern and western parts of Wales. However, it also found its way into English-speaking areas through cultural exchange and intermarriage between the Welsh and English populations.

One notable historical figure bearing the name Derren was Derren Llwyd (1480-1560), a Welsh clergyman and translator who played a significant role in the early stages of the Protestant Reformation in Wales. He is credited with translating portions of the Bible and other religious texts into the Welsh language, making them accessible to a broader audience.

Another individual of note was Derren Morgan (1609-1672), a Welsh politician and member of the Parliament of England during the English Civil War. He was a staunch supporter of the Parliamentarian cause and played a role in the events leading up to the execution of King Charles I in 1649.

In the 19th century, Derren Thomas (1812-1888) was a renowned Welsh scholar and antiquarian. He dedicated much of his life to preserving and promoting Welsh literature, history, and culture, publishing several works on these subjects.

Derren Nesbitt (1935-2017) was a British actor and film director born in Berlin to Welsh parents. He had a prolific career in cinema and television, appearing in numerous movies and TV shows throughout the 20th century.

Finally, Derren Brown (born 1971) is a contemporary British mentalist, illusionist, and author who has gained international fame for his mind-reading and psychological manipulation performances. His television shows and live shows have captivated audiences worldwide with his remarkable demonstrations of suggestion, misdirection, and psychological techniques.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Derren over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Derren in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2014. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Derren, the clearest high point is 2004. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2014, compared with 23 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
06121723199620052014

Decades

Derren by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Derren was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2010s #3218 26 4
2000s #1707 120 9
1990s #2607 11 3

Geography

Where Derren is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Derren. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Derren ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #686 in 2015.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Derren in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#686 in 2015

13 years of NRS records, 69 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Derren

  • Derren Brown

    screenwriter; actor; writer; illusionist; television presenter; film producer; painter; hypnotist; magician

    British illusionist and writer

    1971-

  • Derren Litten

    actor; writer; television actor; television director

    English comedy writer, actor

    1970-

  • Derren Nesbitt

    screenwriter; actor; television actor; film director

    British actor

    1935-

Related

Names similar to Derren

FAQ

Derren: questions and answers

How popular is the name Derren in the UK right now?

In 2014, Derren was ranked #2964 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.

When was Derren most popular?

The peak year on record was 2004, with 23 babies registered as Derren in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Derren?

An anglicized form of the Irish "Dearán" meaning "little great one".

How many people are called Derren in the UK?

A total of 157 babies have been registered as Derren across the 16 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 69 more in Scotland.

Where is Derren most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Derren ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #686 in 2015. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.