Dennis Boy

Popularity: #580 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationDEN-iss / /ˈdɛnɪs/

Greek; Latin

Meaning

Greek: 'follower of Dionysius'; Latin: 'divine'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Dennis is derived from the Greek name Dionysios, which means 'follower of Dionysius', the Greek god of wine and festivity. It became popular in the Christian tradition due to Saint Denis, a 3rd-century martyr and the patron saint of France. The name has been used in various forms across different cultures and languages, contributing to its widespread appeal. In the English-speaking world, Dennis gained popularity in the 20th century.

Trend Summary

Dennis experienced peak popularity in the mid-20th century but has seen a decline in recent years.

Similar Names

DariusDesmondDominicDanteDorian

Variants

  • Den
  • Denny

International Variants

  • Denis (French)
  • Dinis (Portuguese)
  • Dénes (Hungarian)
  • Dino (Italian)

Famous people named Dennis

Dennis Rodman is a former professional basketball player known for his time with the Chicago Bulls and his eccentric personality.

Dennis Quaid is an American actor recognized for his roles in films such as 'The Parent Trap' and 'The Day After Tomorrow'.

Dennis Miller is a comedian and political commentator known for his work on 'Saturday Night Live'.

Dennis Lehane is an American author known for his crime novels, including 'Mystic River' and 'Shutter Island'.

Fictional characters named Dennis

Dennis the Menace is a comic strip character known for his mischievous behavior and antics.

Dennis Reynolds is a character from the television show 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia', known for his narcissistic personality.

Sibling Suggestions

DavidDanielDerekDylanDustinDamon

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Dennis was first seen in the United States in 1880. Dennis has ranked as high as #29 nationally, which occurred in 1952, and has been most popular in California, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Illinois. In the past 5 years the name Dennis has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Dennis (2024)

StateBirthsShare
CA 37
12%
TX 30
9%
FL 25
8%
GA 17
5%
IL 17
5%
NC 17
5%
NY 16
5%
OH 16
5%
PA 14
4%
VA 13
4%
SC 11
3%
MN 9
3%
TN 9
3%
MO 9
3%
MI 9
3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
1880128
188199
1882135
1883112
1884113
1885112
188698
188793
1888106
1889111
1890102
189189
189282
189383
189484
1895108
189690
189796
189899
189986
1900132
190179
190285
190375
190490
1905106
190689
1907111
1908101
1909120
1910135
1911166
1912268
1913324
1914382
1915514
1916532
1917582
1918637
1919626
1920624
1921727
1922677
1923773
1924807
1925826
1926838
1927919
1928957
1929997
19301,173
19311,202
19321,421
19331,685
19342,053
19352,597
19362,627
19373,160
19384,236
19396,212
19407,845
19419,562
194213,281
194314,114
194413,679
194514,990
194621,446
194723,686
194821,763
194921,747
195022,862
195124,265
195224,552
195323,658
195420,757
195520,434
195618,362
195716,913
195816,422
195916,042
196014,302
196112,498
196210,633
19639,820
19649,329
19658,215
19667,787
19677,636
19687,403
19697,360
19707,313
19716,583
19725,608
19735,176
19744,880
19754,731
19764,169
19774,152
19783,860
19794,081
19803,806
19813,634
19823,392
19833,047
19842,953
19852,845
19862,705
19872,757
19882,652
19892,675
19902,494
19912,314
19922,165
19931,964
19941,788
19951,689
19961,539
19971,489
19981,318
19991,340
20001,343
20011,180
20021,081
20031,109
20041,016
20051,039
20061,029
2007968
2008833
2009845
2010726
2011685
2012660
2013625
2014577
2015592
2016587
2017516
2018497
2019510
2020414
2021385
2022422
2023427
2024376