Derry: Meaning, Pronunciation and Origin
Derry is an Irish boy's name meaning “like an oak.” Here’s how to say it, where it comes from, and names that go well with it.
Updated September 2026
- Meaning
- Like an oak
- Gender
- Boy
How do you pronounce Derry?
Derry is pronounced DER-ee. It has two syllables, with the stress on the first.
What does Derry mean?
Derry means “like an oak.” It is often used as a short version of Derek and Dermot but can be a name in its own right. The city of Derry in Northern Ireland comes from Doire Colmcille, the name of a 6th century monastery.
How popular is Derry in Ireland?
Derry wasn't in the 2025 tables, which list names given to at least three babies. It was last recorded in 2016, when 5 baby boys got the name. It was most popular in 1989, when 5 baby boys were named Derry, No. 253 that year. The most babies got the name in 2007: 10. It first appears in the records in 1975, with 3 baby boys.
See the numbers by year
| Year | Babies | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 5 | No. 541 |
| 2014 | 3 | No. 715 |
| 2011 | 3 | No. 730 |
| 2010 | 4 | No. 611 |
| 2007 | 10 | No. 326 |
| 2006 | 4 | No. 493 |
| 2005 | 5 | No. 403 |
| 2003 | 3 | No. 500 |
| 2000 | 6 | No. 274 |
| 1999 | 3 | No. 379 |
| 1997 | 5 | No. 303 |
| 1990 | 3 | No. 323 |
| 1989 | 5 | No. 253 |
| 1981 | 4 | No. 292 |
| 1977 | 4 | No. 293 |
| 1975 | 3 | No. 321 |
Derry in Ogham
Ogham is the oldest way of writing Irish. It was carved along the edges of standing stones, mostly between the 4th and 6th centuries, and read from the bottom up. In later tradition each letter was named after a tree or plant. Here’s Derry, letter by letter.
- DDair, oak
- EEadhadh, aspen
- RRuis, elder
- RRuis, elder
- IIodhadh, yew
Write any name in Ogham with our Ogham translator
Names that go with Derry
Questions about Derry
- How do you pronounce Derry?
- Derry is pronounced DER-ee. Two syllables, stress on the first.
- What does Derry mean?
- Derry means “like an oak.”
- Is Derry a girl's name or a boy's name?
- Derry is a boy's name.