"follower of Dionysus, god of wine"
Origin: Greek Dionysios
Language: French
Denis
Pronunciation: [ d-EHN-ihs ]
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A French classic carried by saints and scholars
French
Russian
Eastern European
Spanish-speaking
Irish
Classic
Elegant
Minimalist
Vintage
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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The Story of Denis
Denis is the French, Russian, and Eastern European form of Dennis, which derives from the medieval Latin Dionysius — from the Greek Dionysios, meaning 'follower of Dionysus,' the god of wine and ecstasy. Saint Denis (died c. 250 CE) was the first Bishop of Paris and is patron saint of France, making Denis a name of enormous cultural importance.
Denis has been common across France, Russia, Eastern Europe, and Ireland for centuries. In France it peaked in the mid-20th century. It remains a standard masculine name across multiple European countries.
In France, Denis is inseparable from Saint Denis, the patron saint who became a symbol of French national identity. The Basilica of Saint-Denis near Paris is the burial place of French kings. In Russia, Denis is simply a solid, classic masculine name.
Historical Record
Denis first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 14,154 babies have been named Denis in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Denis is past its peak , currently ranked #1,643 for boy names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Saint Denis is one of the 14 Holy Helpers of medieval Christianity
- Denis Diderot edited the 18th-century French Encyclopédie, one of the most ambitious intellectual projects in history
- The Paris suburb Saint-Denis contains the royal necropolis where French kings were buried for centuries
Denis in Other Languages
French
Denis
Russian
Денис
Spanish
Denis
Ukrainian
Денис
Portuguese
Denis/Dinis
Popularity Over Time
#1,643
Current Rank
Stable
Trend
Peaked 1952
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Denis
D
Denis Villeneuve
Other
1967
Canadian film director known for Arrival, Blade Runner 2049, and the acclaimed Dune duology
D
Denis Leary
Actor
1957
American comedian and actor known for Rescue Me and stand-up comedy
D
Denis Diderot
Writer
1713
French Enlightenment philosopher and chief editor of the Encyclopédie
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See all →Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #1,643
- Total SSA Count
- 103
- Cultural Origins
- French Russian Eastern European Spanish-speaking Irish
- Pronunciation
- Moderate
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Den
Deni
Denny
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, Irish heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, French heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
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Timeless choice, smooth 2-2 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, French heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
-
Timeless choice, French heritage match, extended 2-3 combo
Middle Names
Middle Names for Denis
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Girl Name
Denis is also used as a girl name, ranked #14886.
View Denis as a girl name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Denis
What does the name Denis mean?
"follower of Dionysus, god of wine" (from Greek Dionysios). Denis is the French, Russian, and Eastern European form of Dennis, which derives from the medieval Latin Dionysius — from the Greek Dionysios, meaning 'follower of Dionysus,' the god of wine and ecstasy. Saint Denis (died c. 250 CE) was the first Bishop of Paris and is patron saint of France, making Denis a name of enormous cultural importance.
What is the origin of the name Denis?
Denis has Greek Dionysios, French, Russian, Eastern European, Spanish-speaking, and Irish origins. In Greek Dionysios, it means "follower of Dionysus, god of wine".
Is Denis a boy or girl name?
Denis is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #1643. As a girl name, it is ranked #14886. Denis is more commonly used as a boy name.
How do you pronounce Denis?
Denis is pronounced d-EHN-ihs.
How popular is the name Denis?
Denis is currently ranked #1643 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Denis?
Common nicknames for Denis include Den, Deni, and Denny.
What are good middle names for Denis?
Popular middle name pairings include Denis Philippe, Denis Marc, Denis Patrick, Denis Pierre, Denis Antoine, Denis Julien, and Denis Alexis.
What are good sibling names for Denis?
Names that pair well with Denis as siblings include Nicolas, Laurent, Sophie, Chloe, Fabien, Isabelle, and Thierry.
How many syllables does Denis have?
Denis has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Denis a common or rare name?
Denis is an uncommon name, ranked #1643 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What boy names are similar to Denis?
About the Name Denis
Denis is a boy name with French, Russian, Eastern European, Spanish-speaking, and Irish origins . The name means "follower of Dionysus, god of wine" in Greek Dionysios .
Is Denis a boy or girl name? Denis is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #1,643 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #14,886. Denis is more commonly used as a boy name.
Denis is currently ranked #1,643 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Denis has 2 syllables and is pronounced d-EHN-ihs, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Denis include Den, Deni, and Denny. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Denis include Denim, Deniz, Denilson, Deniro . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis