Denise Girl

Popularity: #825 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: deh-NEES //dəˈniːs//

Origin: French; Latin

Meaning: French: 'follower of Dionysius'; Latin: 'divine'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Denise has its roots in the ancient Greek name Dionysios, which means "follower of Dionysus," the Greek god of wine, fertility, and revelry. The name was adopted into Latin as Dionysius, and from there it evolved into various forms in different languages.

In the early Middle Ages, the name became popular in France, where it was feminized to Denise. This transition reflects a broader trend in which many names were adapted to fit the linguistic and cultural contexts of the regions they entered.

Denise gained prominence in the Christian tradition through Saint Denis, a 3rd-century martyr and the patron saint of France. His veneration began in the early medieval period, and he became a significant figure in the development of French Christianity.

The cult of Saint Denis contributed to the name's popularity in France, particularly during the Middle Ages, as many parents named their daughters after this revered saint. The name was further popularized through various literary and historical references, including its appearance in works of art and literature throughout the centuries.

Culturally, the name Denise has been associated with themes of joy and celebration, reflecting the attributes of its mythological origin linked to Dionysus. This connection to festivity and life has allowed the name to resonate across different cultures and eras.

The name's enduring presence in various forms, including diminutives like Denny or Deni, showcases its adaptability and the affection with which it has been regarded historically. Overall, Denise embodies a rich tapestry of linguistic evolution and cultural significance, rooted in ancient mythology and sustained through religious and historical narratives.

Famous people named Denise

In this section, you will find notable people named Denise. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Denise who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Denise who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Denise Richards is an actress best known for Wild Things, The World Is Not Enough, and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Denise Van Outen is an actress and television presenter best known for EastEnders, The Big Breakfast, and Strictly Come Dancing.

Denise Nickerson is an actress best known for Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, The Brady Bunch Hour, and Dark Shadows.

Denise Gough is an actress best known for People, Places and Things, Angels in America, and The Ferryman.

Fictional characters named Denise

The following list of fictional characters named Denise is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Denise is a fictional character from the TV series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. She is the daughter of Vivian and Phil Banks, known for her quirky personality and strong sense of individuality.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Denise, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

DianaDanielDaphneDarleneDominiqueDaisy

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Denise. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

DeniceDianaDarleneDebbieDaphneDemi

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Denise was first seen in the United States in 1882.

Denise has ranked as high as #59 nationally, which occurred in 1961, and has been most popular in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Michigan.

In the past 5 years the name Denise has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Denise is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Denise was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Denise.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 123 0 123
2024 105 0 105
2023 151 0 151
2022 165 0 165
2021 197 5 192
2020 307 0 307
2019 162 0 162
2018 239 0 239
2017 217 0 217
2016 210 0 210
2015 270 0 270
2014 359 0 359
2013 359 0 359
2012 411 0 411
2011 473 0 473
2010 619 0 619
2009 692 0 692
2008 897 0 897
2007 881 0 881
2006 853 0 853
2005 918 0 918
2004 894 0 894
2003 957 0 957
2002 963 6 957
2001 1,061 11 1,050
2000 969 6 963
1999 965 0 965
1998 999 0 999
1997 1,080 6 1,074
1996 1,235 5 1,230
1995 1,310 9 1,301
1994 1,403 12 1,391
1993 1,470 12 1,458
1992 1,646 18 1,628
1991 1,757 11 1,746
1990 1,973 18 1,955
1989 2,053 19 2,034
1988 2,078 14 2,064
1987 2,125 21 2,104
1986 2,226 21 2,205
1985 2,454 21 2,433
1984 2,481 20 2,461
1983 2,594 24 2,570
1982 2,915 19 2,896
1981 3,228 27 3,201
1980 3,164 19 3,145
1979 3,286 19 3,267
1978 3,535 16 3,519
1977 3,690 9 3,681
1976 4,012 26 3,986
1975 4,477 16 4,461
1974 5,423 28 5,395
1973 6,643 28 6,615
1972 7,407 25 7,382
1971 8,262 43 8,219
1970 9,376 33 9,343
1969 9,841 43 9,798
1968 9,918 41 9,877
1967 11,121 43 11,078
1966 11,846 49 11,797
1965 13,085 49 13,036
1964 14,781 55 14,726
1963 14,144 52 14,092
1962 14,022 47 13,975
1961 15,422 43 15,379
1960 15,101 35 15,066
1959 14,715 53 14,662
1958 15,015 56 14,959
1957 15,186 41 15,145
1956 14,537 28 14,509
1955 14,592 32 14,560
1954 13,753 37 13,716
1953 11,970 20 11,950
1952 11,673 21 11,652
1951 8,143 27 8,116
1950 4,520 6 4,514
1949 2,242 6 2,236
1948 1,935 5 1,930
1947 1,705 6 1,699
1946 1,585 0 1,585
1945 633 0 633
1944 444 0 444
1943 462 0 462
1942 444 0 444
1941 346 0 346
1940 326 0 326
1939 265 5 260
1938 236 0 236
1937 255 0 255
1936 200 0 200
1935 157 0 157
1934 125 0 125
1933 111 0 111
1932 117 0 117
1931 102 0 102
1930 83 0 83
1929 107 0 107
1928 88 0 88
1927 78 0 78
1926 60 0 60
1925 50 0 50
1924 52 0 52
1923 47 0 47
1922 53 0 53
1921 37 0 37
1920 61 0 61
1919 28 0 28
1918 27 0 27
1917 29 0 29
1916 29 0 29
1915 25 0 25
1914 23 0 23
1913 17 0 17
1912 13 0 13
1911 5 0 5
1910 7 0 7
1909 7 0 7
1908 6 0 6
1907 7 0 7
1906 6 0 6
1905 7 0 7
1904 6 0 6
1903 6 0 6
1902 6 0 6
1900 7 0 7
1894 6 0 6
1889 7 0 7
1882 5 0 5

Top States for Denise (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 22
37%
CA 16
27%
FL 11
19%
NY 5
8%
TN 5
8%