The name Denis is a boy's name of French origin meaning "god of Nysa".

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While Dennis may be more familiar to English speakers, Denis, or sometimes Denys, were the original medieval French forms of the name. Ultimately derived from Dionysius, the Greek god of wine and debauchery, it is a saint's name, popular in France during the Middle Ages, and during the 60s.
 
Denis is memorably borne by Saint Denis, a 3rd century saint whose rather gory end is credited with converting the Gauls to Christianity. Having been decapitated, he is said to have picked up his head, and begun walking and preaching. Legend or not, he is the patron saint of France.
 
While the Dennis spelling has largely been more popular in English speaking countries (and beyond), Denis currently ranks just slightly higher in England and Wales, with its concise spelling appealing perhaps, alongside shorter favorites like Luca, Leo, and Rory. 
 
An important point to note is the different pronunciations of this spelling. In French, it would be DU-NEE, while in English it would said as DEHN-is. The German and Czech pronunciation, DEH-nis, is slightly different again, while in Russia, it would be di-NEES.

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The name Denis is currently ranked #966 in U.S. births. and peaked for boys at #277 in 1952. It is currently rising in popularity. The name is most popular in DENIS, DENIS, and DENIS. Denis is occasionally used for girls in 2025.

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Denis as a feminine name is an unusual variant, as Denis is traditionally masculine in most cultures (the feminine form is usually Denise). This feminine usage might stem from regional variations or individual family traditions. The name ultimately derives from Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and festivity. As a feminine name, Denis remains extremely rare, creating potential confusion due to its strong association as a masculine name in most contexts. The pronunciation might vary depending on cultural background—ranging from DEH-nis to deh-NEE. Women named Denis might embrace the distinctive quality of having what's typically considered a masculine name, though they may frequently need to correct assumptions about their gender in written communications.

The name Denis peaked for girls at #3544 in 1938. The name is most popular in DENIS and DENIS. Denis is occasionally used for boys in 2025.

Year	US rank	Births	Per million
2014	#1,560	102	53.1
2015	#1,505	110	57.4
2016	#1,755	88	46.4
2017	#1,664	95	51.3
2018	#1,726	90	49.6
2019	#1,420	123	68.6
2020	#1,675	95	55
2021	#1,753	92	52.6
2022	#1,679	102	58.4
2023	#1,551	113	66.1
2024	#1,639	103	59.8
2025	#1,712	95	55.6

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