Given name & surname
Denver
“from the green valley”
Denver is used as a given name and a surname. One English interpretation is “from the green valley.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One English interpretation is “from the green valley.”
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is English.
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
Denver through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 23,413
- 19,178 boys · 4,235 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 995 babies
- 2025
- 904
- #518 for boys · #836 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +53%
- Rising fast
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 62% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 578 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 518 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 61.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 326 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (57). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 11,468 as a first name in 2020; 777 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.
Denver’s family of names
Denver has a related form in Denvar. Denver has a related form in Denvir. Denver has a related form in Denvor.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
People named Denver
- Denver PyleAmerican actor (1920-1997)
- Denver RigglemanAmerican businessman and politician from Virginiaborn 1970
- Denver S. Dickerson11th Governor of Nevada from the Silver – Democratic coalition party. (1872-1925)
- Denver S. ChurchAmerican politician (1862-1952)
- Denver HumeEnglish association football player (born 1998)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Appears in
Similar names
If you love Denver, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Indiana
Indiana is used as a given name. One English interpretation is “from the land of the Indians; from the state of Indiana.”
43% boys · 57% girls
Ellis
“Jehovah is my God” · “noble”
73% boys · 27% girls
Everest
“from the highest mountain peak”
73% boys · 27% girls
Arden
“one who is passionate and enthusiastic” · “from the valley of the eagles”
40% boys · 60% girls
Quincy
“the fifth-born child”
66% boys · 34% girls
Denim
“made of a strong cloth”
68% boys · 32% girls
Memphis
“from the city in Tennessee”
79% boys · 21% girls
Collier
“a coal miner”
67% boys · 33% girls