Denis
Say it: DEN-is/ˈdɛnɪs/
BoyMeans from Dionysius, "of Dionysus"5 letters2 syllables
#232
in Ireland (2025)
#229 with spellings combined
20
babies in 2025
#21
best rank (1964)
7,115
babies since 1964
Down 49
10-year rank change
Denis through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (boys) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 20 | #229 |
| 2024 | 25 | #193 |
| 2023 | 20 | #220 |
| 2022 | 29 | #177 |
| 2021 | 29 | #182 |
| 2020 | 29 | #180 |
| 2019 | 39 | #149 |
| 2018 | 30 | #186 |
| 2017 | 42 | #145 |
| 2016 | 45 | #145 |
| 2015 | 33 | #180 |
| 2014 | 44 | #148 |
| 2013 | 40 | #161 |
| 2012 | 34 | #188 |
| 2011 | 41 | #165 |
| 2010 | 36 | #178 |
| 2009 | 39 | #159 |
| 2008 | 57 | #133 |
| 2007 | 52 | #123 |
| 2006 | 50 | #119 |
| 2005 | 34 | #145 |
| 2004 | 39 | #129 |
| 2003 | 41 | #117 |
| 2002 | 54 | #95 |
| 2001 | 45 | #107 |
| 2000 | 37 | #122 |
| 1999 | 39 | #110 |
| 1998 | 32 | #118 |
| 1997 | 57 | #93 |
| 1996 | 45 | #112 |
| 1995 | 68 | #83 |
| 1994 | 60 | #90 |
| 1993 | 62 | #93 |
| 1992 | 67 | #91 |
| 1991 | 95 | #68 |
| 1990 | 102 | #68 |
| 1989 | 81 | #79 |
| 1988 | 98 | #71 |
| 1987 | 104 | #70 |
| 1986 | 135 | #56 |
| 1985 | 135 | #55 |
| 1984 | 152 | #54 |
| 1983 | 159 | #54 |
| 1982 | 165 | #55 |
| 1981 | 174 | #56 |
| 1980 | 182 | #58 |
| 1979 | 187 | #53 |
| 1978 | 173 | #57 |
| 1977 | 183 | #54 |
| 1976 | 197 | #50 |
| 1975 | 210 | #48 |
| 1974 | 238 | #44 |
| 1973 | 236 | #42 |
| 1972 | 269 | #35 |
| 1971 | 284 | #30 |
| 1970 | 277 | #28 |
| 1969 | 261 | #29 |
| 1968 | 301 | #27 |
| 1967 | 303 | #27 |
| 1966 | 303 | #26 |
| 1965 | 350 | #24 |
| 1964 | 347 | #21 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Denis mean?
From Dionysius, "of Dionysus"
Greek, from Dionysius through French; in Ireland also used as an English form of Donnchadh.
Say it right
DENis
The story of Denis
Denis comes from the Greek name Dionysius, which means “of Dionysus”, the Greek god of wine. It spread through Christian saints called Dionysius, among them Saint Denis of Paris, and came into English from French. Denis is mostly a British and Irish spelling, while Dennis is more common elsewhere.
In Ireland, Denis was also used as an English form of the Irish name Donnchadh, even though the two are not related. Donnchadh is the source of Donagh and Donnacha.
Denis was a common name in 1960s Ireland. It reached number 21 in 1964, and its biggest year was 1965, with 350 boys. Since then it has fallen slowly, to 20 boys in 2025. The CSO counts Dennis as a separate name. Denis has always been far rarer in Northern Ireland.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Denis (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Dennis (given name)
- CSO VSA50, Boys Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Denis | 20 | 7,115 |
In Northern Ireland
#314 in 2025 with 5 babies. Best rank #231 (2011); 77 babies since 1998.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.