Denise as a given name was extremely popular from 1950 through 1982. The name was in the top 100 consistently, and multiple times in the top 40 most popular baby girl names. It started to decline in 1983, bottoming out at 991. Currently it is becoming more popular and is rising up the chart. This can be attributed to parents looking for “retro” names, giving a nod to the past. Keep reading to find out more about this baby name.

Meaning of the name Denise:

French: God of Nysa, follower of Dionysius

Origin of the name Denise:

French. Denise is the feminine form of Dennis. Dionysus is the Greek god of wine, and the name Denise means “to be devoted to Bacchus.”

Symbolism of the name Denise:

Denise symbolizes levity, fun, and frivolity. As a “follower of Dionysius” and “devoted to Bacchus,” having fun and creating fun for others is of high priority.

Baby name Denise

Style of the name Denise:

Classic

Gender of the name Denise:

Denise is often considered the female form of the male name Dennis.

Pronunciation of the name Denise:

den-EESE

Syllables in the name Denise:

Two

Emotion evoked from the name Denise:

The name Denise evokes a feeling of joy, fun, and compassion.

Alternative spellings for the name Denise:

Deneece, Denice, Deniece, Denyse, Denyce

Nicknames for the name Denise:

Denni, Denny, Deny, Den, Dee, Neecy

Popularity of the name Denise:

According to the Social Security Administration index, Denise was the 872nd most popular girl name in 2020. It made a prolific jump from its 996th ranking in 2019.

Related names for the name Denise:

Deniece, Dionycia, Dionise, Deniz

Great middle names for Denise and their meanings:

Famous people with the name Denise:

Denise in movies/pop culture:

  • Denise(character on the sitcom “The Cosby Show” and its spin-off “A Different World”)
  • Denisein “The Muppets” who is Kermit the Frog's new significant other)
  • Denise Sherwood (character on “Army Wives”)