Derelle is a unique and distinctive given name of French origin. The name is derived from the French word "dérailler," which means "to derail" or "to go off track." While it may seem unusual to have a name with such a meaning, Derelle was actually quite popular during the Middle Ages in France.
The name gained prominence during this period due to its association with a popular character from medieval French literature. In the 12th-century poem "Le Roman de Renart," there is a character named Renard le Renardeau (which translates to "Little Red Fox") who has a son named Derelle. The character of Derelle was beloved by audiences and helped to popularize his unique name.
Despite its French origins, the name Derelle is not particularly common in France today. However, it has gained some popularity as an alternative spelling or variation of the name Daryl or Darrell, which are more commonly used names in English-speaking countries.
Overall, the name Derelle is a rare and distinctive choice with an interesting history and meaning behind it. While its association with going off track might not seem immediately appealing, the name's literary origins give it a unique charm that sets it apart from other names.
According to the statistics provided, the name Derelle has seen varied popularity over the years in the United States. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, there were consistently low numbers of births with this name, ranging from 5 to 6 births per year between 1979 and 1988.
However, there was a notable increase in popularity for Derelle in the early 1990s. Between 1991 and 1993, the number of births with this name almost doubled each year, from 8 births in 1991 to 11 births in both 1992 and 1993.
After this peak period, the popularity of Derelle decreased again. There were only 5 births each year between 1998 and 2001, with another 5 births recorded in 2008. This suggests that Derelle is no longer a popular choice for baby names in recent years.
In total, there have been 80 births with the name Derelle in the United States since records began in 1979. Despite its fluctuating popularity over time, this number indicates that Derelle remains a relatively uncommon name overall.