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Home › Baby Names Directory › Denali

Denali

♀ Girl

Pronounced dehn-AL-ee /dɛn.ˈæl.i/Medium

Meaning: Great oneMedium

In 30 seconds: Denali means 'the great one' and is best known as the name of North America's highest peak.
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Origin MediumEnglish
MeaningGreat one
U.S. rank (2025)#2338 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births78 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2022
Total births (all-time)≈ 1,794

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202219772025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Denali carries the meaning 'great one' and is most familiar as the name of the tall Alaskan mountain. As a given name it draws on that grand, natural association. It reads as a place name turned personal, with a strong and open sound.

Its three flowing syllables give it a bold yet melodic feel. The drag performer and figure skater Denali, whose given name is Cordero Zuckerman, uses it as a stage name.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Denali is 'great one', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 70%
Behind the Name - Denali — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Denali (1992–present)
    Stage name of Cordero Zuckerman, American drag performer and competitive figure skater on RuPaul's Drag Race.

If you like Denali…

Sierra— Another nature-and-mountain place name used for girls.
Everest— A mountain name matching Denali's peak association.
Aspen— A nature place name in the same outdoorsy vein.
Diamond— the same modern feel
Keyli— echoes that soft -li sound

Explore names like Denali

By thememodernenglish

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Denali mean?

Denali is usually explained as meaning 'great one' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Denali?

It's commonly said dehn-AL-ee /dɛn.ˈæl.i/.

Is Denali a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Denali is used as a girl name.

How popular is Denali?

In 2024, Denali ranked #2112 in the U.S. for girls, with 90 births recorded.

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