Dene

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Dene

Pronounced DEEN /ˈdiːn/High

Meaning: Dene reads as a short form of Deana, Doreen, or Geraldine used for a girl; it is also an English topographic word (dene) meaning 'a wooded valley or dell,' the source of some surnames. Routes vary.Low

In 30 seconds: Dene is a crisp one-beat girl's name, a short form of Deana or an English word for a wooded valley. It stayed rare, peaking around 1965 (said DEEN).

💕 Browse more names

Origin LowEnglish, American

MeaningDene reads as a short form of Deana, Doreen, or Geraldine used for a girl; it is also an English topographic word (dene) meaning 'a wooded valley or dell,' the source of some surnames. Routes vary.

U.S. rank (2000)#8168 ↗ Rising

2000 U.S. births12 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1965

Total births (all-time)≈ 572

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Dene works for a girl as a short form of Deana, Doreen, or Geraldine, and it echoes the English word dene, 'a wooded valley.' Its American use is light and mid-century leaning.

Dene was never common, given to only about twenty girls a year at its peak around 1965, and it stays rare. A single clean syllable, it sits close to Dean and Deana in sound.

Did you know? Dene doubles as a short form of names like Deana and Geraldine and as an old English word for a wooded valley, the same 'dene' found in place names and surnames.

Overall data confidence 40%

References - Dene — Short form of Deana/Geraldine or English 'dene' (wooded valley)

Variations

DeanaDeaneDeen

Nicknames

DeeDenie

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Dene…

Dean— the near-twin unisex name

Deana— a likely parent name

Deann— a like De- girl's name

Denae— a like short Den- name

Explore names like Dene

By themerare english vintage short

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Dene mean?

It is a short form of Deana or Geraldine, and also an English word for a wooded valley.

How do you pronounce Dene?

It is said DEEN /ˈdiːn/, one syllable.

Is Dene a boy or girl name?

Dene is used here as a girl's name.

How popular is Dene?

It has always been rare in the United States, given to only about twenty girls a year at its peak in the mid nineteen-sixties.