Is Denis a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Denis is commonly used as a Unisex name.

How popular is Denis?

It’s currently ranked #821 in the U.S. Recent trend: Rising.

Denis Unisex

Popularity: #821 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Origin(s)

PronunciationDEN-iss / /ˈdɛnɪs/

Greek; Latin; French

Meaning

Greek: 'follower of Dionysius'; Latin: 'god of wine'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Denis is derived from the Greek name Dionysios, which is associated with the Greek god Dionysus, the deity of wine, fertility, and festivity. It became popular in Christian contexts due to Saint Denis, the patron saint of France, who was martyred in the 3rd century. The name has been widely used in various forms across Europe, particularly in France and its former colonies.

Trend Summary

Denis has seen fluctuating popularity in the U.S., with a notable decline since the mid-20th century.

Variants

Denis
Denys
Denny

International Variants

Denis (French)
Dinis (Portuguese)
Dénes (Hungarian)
Dionisio (Italian)

Famous people named Denis

Denis Diderot was a French philosopher and writer, best known for co-founding the Encyclopédie.

Denis Leary is an American actor and comedian, recognized for his roles in television and film.

Denis Villeneuve is a Canadian filmmaker, acclaimed for directing films such as 'Arrival' and 'Dune'.

Denis Rodman is a former professional basketball player, known for his time with the Chicago Bulls and his colorful personality.

Fictional characters named Denis

Denis the Menace is a character from the comic strip created by Hank Ketcham, known for his mischievous antics.

Denis from 'The Secret of NIMH' is a character in the animated film, representing a brave and resourceful mouse.

Sibling Suggestions

Daniel David Derek Dylan Damon Dominic

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Denis was first seen in the United States in 1880. Denis has ranked as high as #572 nationally, which occurred in 1952, and has been most popular in New York, California, Massachusetts, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. In the past 5 years the name Denis has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Denis (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
TX	14	26%
FL	12	23%
CA	10	19%
NY	7	13%
IL	5	9%
PA	5	9%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	10
1881	9
1882	12
1883	7
1884	6
1885	9
1886	7
1887	8
1888	7
1889	6
1890	7
1891	5
1892	10
1893	7
1894	6
1895	12
1896	10
1898	11
1900	13
1901	5
1904	8
1905	8
1906	7
1908	8
1909	6
1910	9
1911	12
1912	22
1913	21
1914	30
1915	38
1916	38
1917	47
1918	48
1919	35
1920	48
1921	44
1922	54
1923	47
1924	58
1925	68
1926	82
1927	74
1928	69
1929	72
1930	88
1931	98
1932	101
1933	146
1934	143
1935	170
1936	166
1937	198
1938	243
1939	296
1940	272
1941	302
1942	392
1943	343
1944	312
1945	327
1946	448
1947	496
1948	428
1949	393
1950	481
1951	541
1952	618
1953	582
1954	574
1955	491
1956	493
1957	389
1958	409
1959	373
1960	363
1961	309
1962	326
1963	303
1964	275
1965	270
1966	273
1967	212
1968	224
1969	200
1970	202
1971	169
1972	158
1973	131
1974	134
1975	122
1976	138
1977	129
1978	107
1979	108
1980	123
1981	125
1982	86
1983	99
1984	79
1985	98
1986	111
1987	101
1988	88
1989	115
1990	111
1991	121
1992	113
1993	101
1994	95
1995	105
1996	102
1997	105
1998	110
1999	99
2000	110
2001	114
2002	117
2003	144
2004	146
2005	141
2006	158
2007	158
2008	132
2009	144
2010	125
2011	117
2012	124
2013	120
2014	102
2015	110
2016	88
2017	95
2018	90
2019	123
2020	95
2021	92
2022	102
2023	113
2024	103