Denna

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Denna

Pronounced DEN-ah /ˈdɛn.ə/Medium

Meaning: A variant of Dena/Deana, read either as a feminine of Dean (Old English denu, 'valley') or as a short form of Deanna/Geraldine. The exact route is uncertain.Low

In 30 seconds: A soft midcentury name: Denna links to Dean ('valley') or Deanna (said 'DEN-ah'). Routes uncertain, which we note.

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Origin LowEnglish

MeaningA variant of Dena/Deana, read either as a feminine of Dean (Old English denu, 'valley') or as a short form of Deanna/Geraldine. The exact route is uncertain.

U.S. rank (2023)#9134 ↗ Rising

2023 U.S. births11 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1969

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,377

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

Denna reads as a form of Dena/Deana -- a feminine of Dean ('valley') or a short Deanna. It crested around 1969 and then faded; the exact route is uncertain, which we note (said 'DEN-ah').

It peaked in the late 1960s and then declined. A soft, uncertain-rooted midcentury name.

Did you know? Denna is a variant of Dena/Deana, tied either to Dean ('valley') or to Deanna. It peaked around 1969 among trim two-syllable names; its route is uncertain, which we note (said 'DEN-ah').

Overall data confidence 38%

References -- Denna — Form of Dena/Deana; Dean 'valley' or short Deanna; route uncertain

Variations

DenaDeanaDenah

Nicknames

DennyDee

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Denna…

Dena— a spelling twin

Deanna— a like name it may shorten

Glenna— a like soft -enna name

Brenna— a like two-beat -enna name

Explore names like Denna

By themeuncertain soft short-form midcentury

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Denna mean?

Denna is a form of Dena/Deana, tied to Dean ('valley') or to Deanna; the route is uncertain, which we note.

How do you pronounce Denna?

It's said DEN-ah /ˈdɛn.ə/ -- two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Denna a boy or girl name?

Denna is a girl's name.

How popular is Denna?

Denna is an uncommon midcentury name; it saw its best use around the late nineteen-sixties and is rare today.