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Home › Baby Names Directory › Denise

Denise

♀ Girl

Pronounced duh-NEES /də.ˈnis/Medium

Meaning: Of Zeus , godlikeMedium

In 30 seconds: Denise is a French girl's name meaning 'of Zeus' or 'godlike', the feminine counterpart to Denis.
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Origin MediumFrench, English, Dutch
MeaningOf Zeus , godlike
U.S. rank (2025)#1677 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births123 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1961
Total births (all-time)≈ 373,419

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 196118822025

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

Denise is French and carries the sense 'of Zeus' or 'godlike', tracing back through Denis to the god Dionysos. As the feminine form, it brings that ancient association into a smooth, polished name. Older versions like Dionysia and Dionisia show the longer shape it grew from.

The name has a soft, sophisticated French sound that helped carry it well beyond France. Bearers include Miss World winner Denise Perrier, born in 1935, and Miss Universe titleholder Denise Quiñones, born in 1980.

Did you know? The meaning usually attached to Denise is 'of Zeus , godlike', and that core idea is what gives the name most of its long-term appeal.
Overall data confidence 78%
Behind the Name - Denise — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

DenieceDenisaDionysiaDionisiaDye

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

  • ★Denise Perrier (1935–present)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.
  • ★Denise Quiñones (1980–present)
    Female public figure listed on Behind the Name.

If you like Denise…

Primrose— a similarly popular pick
Therese— echoes that soft -se sound
Elise— another French name
Alyse— shares the -se ending
Louise— echoes that soft -se sound

Explore names like Denise

By themeenglishfrench

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Denise mean?

Denise is usually explained as meaning 'of Zeus , godlike' and is most often linked with French tradition.

How do you pronounce Denise?

It's commonly said duh-NEES /də.ˈnis/.

Is Denise a boy or girl name?

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

How popular is Denise?

In 2024, Denise ranked #1894 in the U.S. for girls, with 105 births recorded.

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