Denny
Denny is a boy's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Follower of Dionysus.
Origin and history
Denny originated as a diminutival or short form of Dennis, derived from the Greek name Dionysios, which refers to the ancient god of wine and revelry. Popularity peaked in the mid-20th century in the United States, and it now serves as a relaxed, classic given name.
Popularity in the United States
15,417 babies in the United States have been named Denny since 1880. It ranks #954 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1774.
States where it is most popular
- CA (15.9 %)
- OH (9.4 %)
- TX (6.9 %)
- IN (6.2 %)
- IL (5.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 5 |
| 1890-1900 | 11 |
| 1900-1910 | 26 |
| 1910-1920 | 157 |
| 1920-1930 | 458 |
| 1930-1940 | 1,250 |
| 1940-1950 | 3,011 |
| 1950-1960 | 2,693 |
| 1960-1970 | 2,447 |
| 1970-1980 | 1,942 |
| 1980-1990 | 1,223 |
| 1990-2000 | 895 |
| 2000-2010 | 707 |
| 2010-2019 | 439 |
| 2020-2029 | 153 |
Famous people named Denny
- Denny Hamlin: Race car driver
- Denny Laine: Musician, Singer
- Denny Crum: Basketball coach
Fun facts
- Denny developed primarily as an informal pet name for Dennis before gaining traction as an independent given name.
- The name experienced its highest usage in the U.S. during the 1940s and 1950s.