Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Denise
GirlFrench, Greek· “of Dionysus”
- Meaning
- of Dionysus
- Origin
- French, Greek
- Pronunciation
- dih-NEES
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,677
- US babies 2025
- 123
- Best rank
- #23 (1955)
- Peak year
- 1961
Meaning and origin of Denise
Denise is a French and Greek name that means “of Dionysus”.
Denise is the French feminine form of Denis, which comes from the Greek Dionysios, "of Dionysus," the Greek god of wine and revelry. Saint Denis, a third-century bishop of Paris and martyr, is the patron saint of France, and his name spread throughout the French-speaking world. Denise was popular in France and later in the United States and Britain in the mid-twentieth century. It feels friendly and a little retro, with a soft, sophisticated French sound. Dee and Neecy are possible nicknames.
Other spellings with the same sound: Denice.
Popularity over time
Denise first appears in US Social Security records in 1882. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 93 different years, starting in 1882. Its best national rank was #23 in 1955, and the most babies received it in 1961, when 15,379 were named Denise. In 2025, 123 babies were named Denise, and it ranked #1,677 nationally. That is 54% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #931 in 1920, #82 in 1950, #95 in 1980, #329 in 2000, #488 in 2010, and #1,677 in 2025. Of the 373,422 US girls named Denise since records began, 34% were born in the 1960s, its biggest decade. The 1950s come next, with 123,783 babies. Since 2010, 4,362 more have been named Denise.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Kim, Theresa, Teresa, Laurie, and Sherry.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Denise ranked highest in California, Tennessee, and New York.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| California | #1006 | 27 |
| Tennessee | #1176 | 5 |
| New York | #1253 | 11 |
| Texas | #1322 | 19 |
| Georgia | #1419 | 6 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Denise is usually pronounced dih-NEES, with two syllables. It has six letters, starts with D and ends in “-se”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Denice.
Middle names for Denise
A few middle names that flow with Denise: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Denise
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Lists that include Denise
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Denise mean?
Denise is a French and Greek name that means “of Dionysus”.
What is the origin of the name Denise?
Denise has French and Greek roots. Denise is the French feminine form of Denis, which comes from the Greek Dionysios, "of Dionysus," the Greek god of wine and revelry.
Is Denise a popular name?
Not especially. Denise ranked #1,677 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Denise a boy or girl name?
Denise is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Denise?
Denise is usually pronounced dih-NEES. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings