Given name & surname
Denys
“a follower of Dionysus”·“follower of Dionysus”
In English use, Denys has a related form in Dennis. One French interpretation is “a follower of Dionysus.” Its derivation is not certain. Denys is a variant of Denise. In French use, Denise carries the interpretation “follower of Dionysus.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Denys has a related form in Dennis. One French interpretation is “a follower of Dionysus.” Its derivation is not certain. Denys 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 English use, Denys has a related form in Dennis. A possible origin is Greek, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1944. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Denys through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 641
- 215 boys · 426 girls
- Most popular year
- 1988
- 30 babies
- 2025
- 9
- #8,421 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +21%
- Rising
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 9 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 8,421 among boys’ names. The recent annual counts are too incomplete to establish a ten-year comparison. Its largest published annual count for boys was 13 in 2009. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,860 as a first name in 2020; 373 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.
Denys’s family of names
In English usage, Denys has a related form in Dennis. In French usage, Denys has a conventional equivalent in the English form Dennis. Denys has a related form in Denise.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Denys has relatives in 23 languages.
24 related names in 23 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 4
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 32
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- DenizTurkish
- DennyEnglish
- DionisioSpanish
- Denissequivalent
- Dionysiosequivalent
- Dennysequivalent
- DionysiusLatin
- Дзянісequivalent
Show 24 moreShow fewer
- Dionisiyequivalent
- ДеннисRussian
- ДенисRussian
- Dionizijequivalent
- Дионисийequivalent
- Dzyanisequivalent
- Dionisiiequivalent
- Діонісійequivalent
- DivišCzech
- DionýzSlovak
- DionísioPortuguese
- DinizPortuguese
- DinísPortuguese
- DionizyPolish
- DanísOccitan
- DenijsDutch
- DionigiItalian
- DénesHungarian
- ΔιονύσιοςAncient Greek
- DenizoEsperanto
- DiunisuCorsican
- DionisiCatalan
- DionísCatalan
- DenezBreton
People named Denys
- Denys ShmyhalUkrainian politician, former Prime Minister of Ukraine (2020–2025)born 1975
- Denys MonastyrskyUkrainian lawyer and politician (1980–2023)
- Denys HarmashUkrainian footballerborn 1990
- Denys BoykoUkrainian footballerborn 1988
- Denys ArcandCanadian film directorborn 1941
- Denys ProkopenkoUkrainian military officerborn 1991
- Denys de La PatellièreFrench film director and scriptwriter (1921–2013)
- Denys Popovassociation football player (1999-)
- Denys BerinchykAmateur World Championship runner-up, Ukrainian Boxerborn 1988
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Denys, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Derick
“the ruler of the tribe”
>99% boys
Devan
“from the beautiful farmland; of the divine”
85% boys · 15% girls
Demarcus
“the son of Marcus”
>99% boys
Devante
“one who fights wrongdoing”
>99% boys
Devonte
“one who is energetic”
>99% boys
Kurtis
“a courtier”
>99% boys
Demetri
“a follower of the goddess Demeter”
>99% boys
Darell
>99% boys