Boy Name · Greek Origin
Denis
Denis is a boy's name whose meaning is not firmly attested in the historical record. It is a boy's name of Greek origin, and it is rare in the United States today — outside the SSA top 1,000.
Origin and meaning: English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0). Popularity: US Social Security Administration.
Considering Denis? It is a boy name, rooted in Greek naming tradition, and ranks in our Rare popularity tier. Phonetically it shares territory with Dennis.
Denis meaning, origin, and usage
Meaning: Denis has a distinctive sound and evolving modern usage.
Origin: Greek naming roots help connect Denis to related Greek baby names.
Pronunciation: Baby Name Studio pronounces Denis as D·E·N·I·S, with 5 letters and a boy usage profile.
Popularity: According to Baby Name Studio's 2026 tracker, Denis is an uncommon, standout choice in the Rare tier.
Denis variants, nicknames, middle names, and sibling names
- Variants and spelling ideas: Denisa, Denise, Denisy, Deni.
- Nicknames: Den and D.
- Middle names: Pair Denis with a middle name that balances its substantial sound; start with the Denis middle name generator.
- Sibling names: Dennis, Denise, Denese, Denisa, Dimas — full picks on the sibling names for Denis guide for a cohesive sibset.
- Similar names: Looking for names that sound like Denis? Browse our names like Denis guide for phonetic-neighbor picks.
- Explore more: use the Baby Name Explorer, name search, AI name generator, and Baby Name Studio homepage.
Frequently asked about Denis
What does the name Denis mean?
Denis has no single meaning that is firmly attested in the historical record. It is used as a boy name in US birth records, and parents usually choose it for its sound rather than a documented meaning.
What is the origin of Denis?
Denis originates in Greek naming tradition.
How do you pronounce Denis?
Denis has 5 letters and is most commonly stressed on the first syllable.
Is Denis a boy's or girl's name?
Denis is primarily used as a boy's name in US records.
How popular is Denis in 2026?
In our 2026 popularity tracker, Denis sits in the Rare tier — an uncommon, standout choice.
What names are similar to Denis?
Names that share Denis's sound and style include Dennis, Denise, Denese, Denisa, Dimas.
What middle names pair well with Denis?
Good middle-name fits for Denis pair an opposite syllable rhythm: if Denis is short, lean longer (e.g. classical or three-syllable middles); if Denis is longer, a one-syllable middle keeps the full name from feeling heavy.
What are good sibling names for Denis?
Sibling names that pair naturally with Denis share its rhythm without rhyming — Dennis, Denise, Denese all sit comfortably alongside it on a shortlist.