Dedrick is a name of African American origin, derived from the German name Dietrich, which is composed of the elements "thier" meaning "people" and "ric" meaning "power" or "rule". Thus, Dedrick signifies "people power" or "ruler of the people".
The name Dietrich has been in use since the Middle Ages and was popularized by Charlemagne's warrior nephew, who was named after him. Over time, it evolved into its English form, Richard.
In the United States, Dedrick emerged as a distinct given name during the late 20th century, particularly among African American families. It has been more commonly used than Dietrich but remains relatively rare compared to other names like Richard or Derrick.
Despite its origins and evolution, there is no specific historical figure associated with the name Dedrick. However, it could be inferred that people named Dedrick carry a sense of power and leadership, reflecting the meaning of their name's root words.
In terms of popularity, Dedrick has not ranked among the top 1000 names in the United States since records began being kept by the Social Security Administration in 1972. Nonetheless, it continues to be used sporadically, with a small but dedicated group of bearers who carry this distinctive name throughout the years.
The name Dedrick has seen a significant amount of fluctuation in its popularity over the years in the United States. With only five births recorded each year from 1920 to 1939, it was quite uncommon during this time period.
However, starting in 1952, there was an increase in babies named Dedrick, with ten births that year and again in 1953. This trend continued through the late 1950s and early 1960s, reaching a peak of 38 births in 1965.
The popularity of the name Dedrick surged significantly in the 1970s, with an all-time high of 147 births recorded in 1977. This decade saw consistent growth in the number of babies named Dedrick each year, indicating that it was becoming increasingly popular among parents during this time.
Despite a slight dip in popularity during the early 1980s, with around 86 to 87 births per year from 1981 to 1984, the name Dedrick maintained steady popularity throughout most of the decade, reaching numbers ranging between 72 and 91 births annually.
The late 1980s through the early 2000s saw a decline in the number of babies named Dedrick. While still being chosen as a name, it was much less popular during this period, with fewer than 100 births recorded each year from 1990 to 2005.
In recent years, the popularity of the name Dedrick has continued to wane, with fewer than 50 babies named Dedrick each year since 2013. The most recent data available shows that there were only 15 births recorded for the name Dedrick in 2023.
Overall, while the name Dedrick has seen periods of popularity and decline over the years, it remains a unique choice for parents looking to give their child a distinctive name. With a total of 4424 babies named Dedrick since records began in the United States, it is clear that this name has left its mark on American naming trends.