Meaning & Origin
A male given name from Ancient Greek.
Dennis is a boy's and girl's baby name of Greek origin, derived from Dionysius — the Greek god of wine and revelry — via the Latin Dionisus. The name carries the spirited energy of its mythological roots.
Dennis surged in popularity in the United States during the 1940s and 1950s, reaching the top 10. The 1951 debut of the comic strip Dennis the Menace cemented its playful image in American culture. Saint Dionysius (Denis) is the patron saint of France, adding a European historical dimension to this classic American-sounding name.