Everything about the name DIRK

Meaning, origin, history

Dirk is a unique and distinctive given name of Germanic origin. It comes from the Old Norse name Thorfinnr, which is composed of the elements þórr meaning "Thor" (the god of thunder in Norse mythology) and finni meaning "peace". Thus, Dirk means "peaceful Thor" or "Thor brings peace".

The name Dirk has been used throughout history by various notable individuals. One famous bearer was Dirk Hartog, a Dutch explorer who discovered Australia's west coast in 1616. Another notable figure is Dirk Bogarde, an English actor known for his roles in films such as "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Death in Venice".

In literature, Dirk appears as a character in works like "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency" by Douglas Adams, which has contributed to the name's popularity. Although it may not be as common as other names, Dirk offers a strong, unique, and meaningful option for parents seeking an uncommon yet significant name for their child.

Popularity of the name DIRK since 1880

Birth evolution

Popularity analysis

Here are some interesting statistics about the name Dirk:

From 1918 to 2023, there have been a total of 10,923 babies named Dirk born in the United States. The name's popularity has varied significantly over time.

In the early years (1918-1953), the number of births with the name Dirk fluctuated between 6 and 438, peaking in 1953 with 438 births.

The late 1950s to mid-1970s saw consistent popularity for the name Dirk, with an average of around 325 births per year. The highest point during this period was in 1961, with 379 births.

However, from the late 1970s onwards, there has been a steady decline in the number of babies named Dirk. In fact, since the 1980s, the annual births with the name Dirk have not surpassed 200.

The most recent data available (up to 2023) shows that the popularity of the name Dirk continues to decrease. There were only 20 births in 2023, down from 34 in 2017.

These statistics demonstrate that while the name Dirk was once popular, it has since become quite rare. This could be due to changing trends and preferences in baby naming over time.