Boy name · Greek
Denis
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: of DionysusDenis is a boy's name that comes from Greek and means "of Dionysus". It is used in French and Russian.
- Meaning
- Of Dionysus
- Origin
- Greek
- Gender
- Boy
- Say it
- duh-NEE (French)
Meaning and origin of Denis
As a boy's name, Denis comes from Greek and means "of Dionysus". It is used in French and Russian.
In French, say duh-NEE. In Russian, say dyeh-NEES. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Denis on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Denis on 3 lists.
“The French and Russian spelling, with one N”
From Nicknames for Dennis, classic and short nicknames for Dennis
“Of Dionysus; Greek. Patron saint of Paris. Say duh-NEE”
From French boy names, french saints' names for boys
“Of Dionysus; Greek Dionysios. Diminutive Deniska. Say dyeh-NEES”
From Russian boy names, russian boy names from Greek
How popular is Denis?
- US rank in 2025
- #1,712
- 95 babies, 56 per million boys
- Best rank
- #277 in 1952
- 618 babies that year
- Babies since 1880
- At least 20,733
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 74 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 60 per million |
| 1900s | 41 per million |
| 1910s | 45 per million |
| 1920s | 56 per million |
| 1930s | 156 per million |
| 1940s | 249 per million |
| 1950s | 245 per million |
| 1960s | 143 per million |
| 1970s | 85 per million |
| 1980s | 56 per million |
| 1990s | 55 per million |
| 2000s | 68 per million |
| 2010s | 58 per million |
| 2020s | 58 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,756 | #1,664 | #1,726 | #1,421 | #1,675 | #1,755 | #1,681 | #1,551 | #1,643 | #1,712 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Denis
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- DennisOf Dionysus (Greek, boy)
Names spelled like Denis
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- DenizThe sea (Turkish, unisex)
- DemirIron (Turkish, boy)
- DewiBeloved one (Hebrew, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- DionysiaOf Dionysus (Greek, girl)
- TirsoStaff of Dionysus (Greek, boy)
Middle names for Denis
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
- AnselGod helmet (Germanic, boy)
- ChristopherBearer of Christ (Greek, boy)
- ForestWoodland (English, boy)
- HowellEminent, conspicuous (Welsh, boy)
- LamarThe pool (Old French, boy)
- MichaelWho is like God? (Hebrew, boy)
- RodneyHroda's island (Old English, boy)
- TrumanTrusty man (English, boy)
More boy names from Greek
- AlexanderDefender of men (Greek, boy)
- LucasMan from Lucania (Greek, boy)
- ChristianFollower of Christ (Greek, boy)
- LeonA lion (Greek, boy)
- HectorHolding fast (Greek, boy)
- TheoGift of God (Greek, boy)
- AlexisHelper, defender (Greek, boy)
- LucaMan from Lucania (Greek, boy)
- PeterRock, stone (Greek, boy)
- SebastianMan of sebaste, venerable (Greek, boy)
Denis: common questions
What does the name Denis mean?
Denis comes from Greek and means "of Dionysus".
Is Denis a boy or girl name?
Denis is mainly a boy's name. In 2025, 6 girls and 95 boys in the US were named Denis, according to Social Security Administration data.
Where does the name Denis come from?
Denis comes from Greek and means "of Dionysus". Today it is used in French and Russian.
How do you pronounce Denis?
In French, say duh-NEE. In Russian, say dyeh-NEES. Pronunciation can vary between languages and regions.
How popular is the name Denis?
Denis ranked #1,712 in the US in 2025, with 95 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Denis?
Forms of Denis with the same meaning and origin include Dennis (English).
What middle names go with Denis?
Middle names that flow well with Denis include Ansel, Christopher, Forest, Howell and Lamar. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.