Given name & surname
Denis
“a follower of Dionysus”·“follower of Dionysus”
In German use, Denis has a related form in Dennis. One French interpretation is “a follower of Dionysus.” Its derivation is not certain. In German use, Denis is a variant of Denise. In French use, Denise carries the interpretation “follower of Dionysus.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In German use, Denis has a related form in Dennis. One French interpretation is “a follower of Dionysus.” Its derivation is not certain. In German use, Denis is a variant of Denise. In French use, Denise carries the interpretation “follower of Dionysus.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In German use, Denis has a related form in Dennis. A possible origin is Greek, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In French usage, Denis developed from Διονύσιος.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Denis through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 21,606
- 20,733 boys · 873 girls
- Most popular year
- 1952
- 625 babies
- 2025
- 101
- #1,712 for boys · #13,640 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +2%
- Steady
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 94% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 95 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 1,712 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 2.9% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 618 in 1952. It also appeared in 6 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, Florida had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (12). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 27,745 as a first name in 2020; 6,087 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Denis’s family of names
In English usage, Denis has a diminutive in Denny. Denis shares a linguistic root with Dennis. In German usage, Denis has a related form in Denise.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Denis has relatives in 24 languages.
26 related names in 24 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 28
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Deniequivalent
- DionisioSpanish
- Denissequivalent
- Dionysiosequivalent
- Denison“son of” surname · English
- Dionisiusequivalent
- Дзянісequivalent
- Dionisiyequivalent
Show 20 moreShow fewer
- ДеннисRussian
- Dinisicognate · Sicilian
- Dinixhcognate · Walloon
- Deeneesdescendant · yol
- Διονύσιοςroot · Greek, Ancient Greek
- DionizyPolish
- DionigiItalian
- Dionizijequivalent
- Dinisequivalent
- Davnisequivalent
- Дионисийequivalent
- Dzyanisequivalent
- DénesHungarian
- DionýzSlovene
- DinizPortuguese
- DinísPortuguese
- DiunisuCorsican
- DionísCatalan
- DenizoEsperanto
- DenezBreton
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Denis
- Denis DiderotFrench Enlightenment philosopher writer and encyclopædist (1713–1784)
- Denis MukwegeCongolese gynecologist and Nobel Peace Prize laureateborn 1955
- Denis Sassou NguessoPresident of the Republic of the Congo (1979–1992; 1997–present)born 1943
- Denis VilleneuveCanadian film director and screenwriter (born 1967)
- Denis CheryshevRussian footballerborn 1990
- Denis PapinFrench physicist, mathematician and inventor (1647–1713)
- Denis FonvizinRussian writer (1745-1792)
- Denis LawScottish footballer (1940–2025)
- Denis ZakariaSwiss association football playerborn 1996
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Denis, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Jerome
“of the sacred name”
>99% boys
Nick
“of the victorious people”
>99% boys
Niels
“the champion” · “of the victorious people”
>99% boys
Rocky
“one who is calm; restful” · “one who is bright with fame”
93% boys · 7% girls
Rock
“one who is calm; restful”
>99% boys
Conant
“resembling a wolf” · “one who is high and mighty”
>99% boys
Fulgencio
“a shining man”
>99% boys
Roch
“a glorious woman”
>99% boys