Denny Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Denny is a name of Old French and Middle English origin, meaning 'follower of Dionysus'. It evolved from Denis in French to Denny in Middle English. The name reflects traits of friendliness and approachability. It does not have biblical relevance. Denny gained popularity in the 19th century and is associated with notable figures in sports and music.
The name Denny is most popular in Iowa, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent Generation generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Denny has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Denny' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1305th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 459th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 440th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 571st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 957th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1838th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 3417th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 8382nd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4379th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 4150th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 7085th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 14555th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 35406th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 27734th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Denny' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Denny"
Pronunciation
/ˈdɛni/
Origin
Old French and Middle English
Etymology
The name Denny is derived from the French name Denis, which itself comes from the Greek name Dionysios, meaning 'follower of Dionysus', the Greek god of wine and festivity.
Meaning
follower of Dionysus
Language Evolution
Denis (French), Dionysios (Greek), Denny (Middle English)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 19th century, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States.
Variants & Derivatives
Dennis, Denny, Den
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Denny is viewed as a friendly and approachable name, often associated with warmth and familiarity.
Famous People
Denny McLain - American former professional baseball pitcher, Denny Hamlin - American professional stock car racing driver, Denny Laine - English musician and member of The Moody Blues
Explore More Denny Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Denny"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Denny"
"Denny" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 1305th of 7545 | 494 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 459th of 6773 | 2,972 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 440th of 7552 | 5,451 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 571st of 10718 | 3,198 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 957th of 16616 | 1,742 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 1838th of 24088 | 1,117 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 3417th of 23106 | 394 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 8382nd of 9107 | 8 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 4379th of 9204 | 76 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 4150th of 12526 | 167 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 7085th of 19264 | 96 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 14555th of 27321 | 43 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 35406th of 35406 | 5 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 27734th of 30306 | 7 |
Regional Popularity of "Denny" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - |
68.01% 1609th/2366 |
76.36% 872nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
21.73% 336th/1546 |
42.16% 656th/1556 |
24.61% 579th/2353 |
20.36% 315th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
14.91% 332nd/2227 |
25.93% 630th/2430 |
15.98% 456th/2853 |
15.71% 436th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
16.07% 472nd/2937 |
22.08% 769th/3483 |
17.42% 613th/3518 |
14.39% 582nd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
27.76% 1023rd/3685 |
21.50% 962nd/4475 |
27.69% 1438th/5194 |
12.46% 787th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
50.13% 2297th/4582 |
27.67% 1429th/5164 |
29.39% 2149th/7313 |
20.94% 1563rd/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- |
59.86% 2686th/4487 |
55.09% 3758th/6822 |
46.46% 2916th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Denny" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - |
100.00% 2775th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Denny"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Denny" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.