I would love to give our future son a middle name after my husband’s much loved grandfather [name_m]Derek[/name_m], who recently passed, but [name_m]Derek[/name_m] isn’t quite our style or seem that fitting for this era. Any ideas of alternatives? [name_m]Derek[/name_m] doesn’t have a middle name so that’s not an option. Thank you!
I would use [name_m]Derek[/name_m] as the middle name. The middle spot is the perfect place for names with personal significance that don’t quite fit your style or feel dated. Any “alternative” to [name_m]Derek[/name_m], especially in the middle spot, wouldn’t feel like an honor name imo.
You could honor your husband’s grandfather by using a name with the same meaning as [name_m]Derek[/name_m], a name related to [name_m]Derek[/name_m] (Behind the Name is an excellent, reliable source), or related to his birthday (birth flower/sign/animal, day, month, etc). You could also find a name based on his favorite colors, vacation spots, places he lived (or wished he lived), etc. You could also use a name similar to [name_m]Derek[/name_m]. I have [name_u]Gray[/name_u] on my short list for my mom (she passed 4 years ago), her middle name was [name_u]Gay[/name_u]. She also had a crush on an actor named [name_u]Gray[/name_u] when she was young. She loved the idea of using [name_u]Gray[/name_u].
[name_m]Derek[/name_m]
[name_m]Gerek[/name_m]/[name_m]Garrek[/name_m]
[name_u]Darren[/name_u]
[name_m]Darius[/name_m]
[name_m]Maverick[/name_m]
[name_m]Roderick[/name_m]
[name_m]Broderick[/name_m] “[name_m]Brody[/name_m]”
[name_u]Darien[/name_u]/[name_u]Dorian[/name_u]
Sorry some of these might be a stretch
I just clicked on the Namberry page of [name_m]Derek[/name_m] and it comes from [name_m]Theodoric[/name_m], so [name_m]Theodoric[/name_m] perhaps?
[name_m]Frederick[/name_m], [name_m]Erik[/name_m] and [name_m]Alaric[/name_m] share similar sounds and meanings.
[name_f]Derren[/name_f], [name_m]Declan[/name_m], [name_u]Dexter[/name_u] have similar sounds?
Maybe [name_u]Drew[/name_u], [name_m]Aron[/name_m], [name_m]Rick[/name_m], [name_m]Cedric[/name_m] or [name_m]Daire[/name_m]. They are a bit more out there but I feel that everything that you connect to [name_m]Derek[/name_m] will automatically be a good honour name. It’s the thought that counts 
[name_u]Darren[/name_u]
[name_m]Darius[/name_m]
[name_m]Erik[/name_m]/[name_m]Eric[/name_m]
[name_u]Adair[/name_u]
Thank you for your ideas