Holding steady.
Popularity of Denese since 1928
Babies named Denese per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1920s | 11 |
| 1930s | 12 |
| 1940s | 101 |
| 1950s | 646 |
| 1960s | 579 |
| 1970s | 181 |
| 1980s | 48 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 10 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Denese is a rare modern respelling of Denise, a name that saw its greatest use from the 1940s through the 1960s. The variant Denese first appeared in U.S. records in 1928, and its peak year was 1954, though it never entered the top 1000 nationally. Its trajectory has been stable at very low usage since the 1970s. The name is not associated with any top states and remains a quiet alternative to the more common Denise. Parents choosing Denese today are selecting a name that feels familiar yet uncommon, a gentle nod to mid-century naming trends.
Denese is a modern English respelling of Denise, which is the feminine form of Denis. Denis itself comes from the Greek name Dionysios, meaning 'follower of Dionysos', the Greek god of wine and revelry. The name Denise became popular in English-speaking countries in the 20th century, and Denese emerged as a phonetic variant during the mid-1900s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Deni, Neesy
Sibling names for Denese
Names that share Denese's style, for a brother or sister.
