Denis
Boy name · #1708 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Denis? In official American birth records, Denis has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Denis is currently the #1708 boy name in the United States — 95 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #1502, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 18,947 boys born in 2025 was named Denis.
The 145-year story
Denis first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 10 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1952, when 618 boys were named Denis — good for #277 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Denis per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Denis against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Denis in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Denis is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Denis will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Denis is most common
State-level data for Denis is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Denis
Statistically, parents drawn to Denis tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Dennis, Elvis, Donnie, Domingo, and Boris.
DennisElvisDonnieDomingoBorisSammyDarylEddy
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Denis | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 95 | #1708 |
| 2024 | 103 | #1641 |
| 2023 | 113 | #1547 |
| 2022 | 102 | #1678 |
| 2021 | 92 | #1750 |
| 2020 | 95 | #1673 |
| 2019 | 123 | #1420 |
| 2018 | 90 | #1724 |
| 2017 | 95 | #1661 |
| 2016 | 88 | #1754 |
| 2015 | 110 | #1502 |
| 2014 | 102 | #1559 |
| 2013 | 120 | #1399 |
| 2012 | 124 | #1359 |
| 2011 | 117 | #1411 |
| 2010 | 125 | #1358 |
| 2009 | 144 | #1241 |
| 2008 | 132 | #1319 |
| 2007 | 158 | #1132 |
| 2006 | 158 | #1106 |
| 2005 | 141 | #1143 |
| 2004 | 147 | #1080 |
| 2003 | 144 | #1076 |
| 2002 | 117 | #1191 |
| 2001 | 114 | #1191 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Denis?
In official American birth records, the name Denis first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 10 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Denis a popular boy name?
Denis ranked #1708 among boys in 2025 with 95 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1502.
When was the name Denis most popular?
Denis peaked in 1952, when 618 American boys received the name (ranked #277 that year). Since 1952 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Denis?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 18,947 newborn American boys was named Denis. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.