Diederik

Diederik is a Dutch masculine given name. It is the Dutch form of Germanic names such as Dietrich and Theodoric, derived from elements meaning “people” (theud) and “ruler” (ric). In use since medieval times, the name has remained a traditional choice in Dutch-speaking regions.

In the Netherlands and Flemish-speaking Belgium, Diederik has several spelling variants, including Diderik and Diderick. The name is commonly shortened to Dirk, a separate given name that shares the same root. While less common for newborns today, Diederik remains part of the traditional pool of Dutch male names and can be found across generations.

Notable bearers include Diederik Stapel, a Dutch social psychologist who was found to have fabricated data in numerous studies, triggering a major scholarly misconduct scandal and reforms in research practices.

See also

- Dietrich

- Theodoric

- Dirk

Diederik, like its related forms, reflects a long history of Germanic naming traditions that spread across Europe and adapted to local languages and spellings.