Denis

♂ Boy

Pronounced DEN-iss /ˈdɛn.ɪs/Medium

Meaning: From the medieval name Dionysius, ultimately from Dionysos, the Greek god of wine; Saint Denis is the patron saint of France.Medium

In 30 seconds: Denis comes from the medieval Dionysius, which traces back to Dionysos, the Greek god of wine. Saint Denis is the patron saint of France, anchoring the name in French history.

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Origin MediumFrench, English, Russian

MeaningFrom the medieval name Dionysius, ultimately from Dionysos, the Greek god of wine; Saint Denis is the patron saint of France.

U.S. rank (2025)#1712 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births95 boys (0.01% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1952

Total births (all-time)≈ 20,731

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

The name descends from Dionysius, a medieval form built on Dionysos, the Greek god of wine and revelry. It gained lasting weight through Saint Denis, the patron saint of France. From there it spread across Europe in forms like Dennis and the Slovak Dionýz.

The filmmaker Denis Villeneuve, born 1967, has given the spelling fresh visibility through films like Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, and Dune. Across languages the name shifts shape, from the Romanian Dionisie to the accented Dènis, while keeping its Greek and saintly roots.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Denis is 'origin uncertain', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name - Denis — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

DennisDionýzDionisieĐe NisDènis

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Denis Villeneuve (born 1967)
Canadian filmmaker known for directing Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, and the Dune films. He has received multiple Academy Award nominations.

If you like Denis…

Dennis— The most common English spelling of the same name as Denis.

Dion— A short name from the same Dionysos source that gave rise to Denis.

Curtis— echoes that soft -is sound

Elvis— lands in the same popularity range

Harris— a similarly popular pick

Explore names like Denis

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Denis mean?

Denis is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with French tradition.

How do you pronounce Denis?

It's commonly said DEN-iss /ˈdɛn.ɪs/.

Is Denis a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Denis?

In 2024, Denis ranked #1639 in the U.S. for boys, with 103 births recorded.