Dennis
Boy name · #707 in 2025 · Uniqueness 61/100
Dennis is currently the #707 boy name in the United States — 381 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #494, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 4,724 boys born in 2025 was named Dennis.
The 145-year story
Dennis first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 128 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1952, when 24,552 boys were named Dennis — good for #18 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 Dennis per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Dennis against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Dennis in class?
Dennis scores 61 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Dennis is most common
Geography matters for names, and Dennis is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Denniss were CA (32), TX (32), NY (25), FL (21), IN (15). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Dennis
Statistically, parents drawn to Dennis tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Denis, Douglas, Chris, Danny, and Curtis.
DenisDouglasChrisDannyCurtisDonaldRonaldDonnie
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Dennis | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 381 | #707 |
| 2024 | 376 | #708 |
| 2023 | 427 | #644 |
| 2022 | 423 | #652 |
| 2021 | 385 | #689 |
| 2020 | 414 | #647 |
| 2019 | 510 | #553 |
| 2018 | 497 | #556 |
| 2017 | 516 | #545 |
| 2016 | 587 | #510 |
| 2015 | 592 | #494 |
| 2014 | 578 | #486 |
| 2013 | 625 | #454 |
| 2012 | 661 | #424 |
| 2011 | 685 | #413 |
| 2010 | 726 | #391 |
| 2009 | 845 | #362 |
| 2008 | 833 | #368 |
| 2007 | 968 | #330 |
| 2006 | 1,029 | #313 |
| 2005 | 1,040 | #316 |
| 2004 | 1,017 | #308 |
| 2003 | 1,109 | #282 |
| 2002 | 1,081 | #280 |
| 2001 | 1,180 | #270 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Dennis a popular boy name?
Dennis ranked #707 among boys in 2025 with 381 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #494.
When was the name Dennis most popular?
Dennis peaked in 1952, when 24,552 American boys received the name (ranked #18 that year). Since 1952 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Dennis?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 4,724 newborn American boys was named Dennis. It scores 61/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.