Holding steady.
Popularity of Denette since 1948
Babies named Denette per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 10 |
| 1950s | 115 |
| 1960s | 340 |
| 1970s | 155 |
| 1980s | 60 |
| 1990s | 12 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Denette is a feminine elaboration of Dennis, first recorded in the United States in 1948. It reached its peak popularity in 1960, during the decade when it saw the most usage. Since then, its trajectory has been stable, meaning it has remained consistently rare with fewer than five births per year in recent decades. The name appears to be a modern coinage, following a pattern of adding the French-influenced suffix "-ette" to masculine names to create feminine forms (e.g., Paulette, Henriette). While it shares roots with the more common Denise, Denette offers a distinctive alternative that was briefly fashionable in the mid-20th century.
Denette is a feminine diminutive of Dennis, which itself derives from the Greek name Dionysios, meaning 'follower of Dionysus.' The name Dennis gained popularity in medieval England and France, and Denette emerged in the mid-20th century as a modern elaboration. It was first recorded in the United States in 1948, peaking in usage during the 1960s, though it has since become rare.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Deni, Denni, Netta
Sibling names for Denette
Names that share Denette's style, for a brother or sister.
