Rising since 1989, #518 for boys today.
Popularity of Denver since 1880
Babies named Denver per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 0 | 18 |
| 1890s | 0 | 51 |
| 1900s | 0 | 136 |
| 1910s | 23 | 989 |
| 1920s | 38 | 1,775 |
| 1930s | 6 | 1,424 |
| 1940s | 0 | 1,498 |
| 1950s | 6 | 1,295 |
| 1960s | 0 | 984 |
| 1970s | 29 | 1,049 |
| 1980s | 50 | 1,036 |
| 1990s | 165 | 1,496 |
| 2000s | 366 | 1,521 |
| 2010s | 1,521 | 2,339 |
| 2020s | 2,031 | 3,567 |
Meaning & origin
Denver is a unisex name with a strong Western American flavor, thanks to its association with the capital of Colorado. The name has been rising in popularity since 1989, reflecting a broader trend of place names and surname-as-first-name usage. In 2025, it ranked 518th, with 1 in every 2,955 newborns receiving the name. Its peak year so far was 2022. The name is most popular in South Dakota, Arkansas, and Kentucky, and it shares style with other rugged, modern-sounding names such as Arlo, Kairo, and Brooks. While its English origins are rooted in a Norfolk village, the name's modern appeal is distinctly American.
Denver originated as a locational surname for people from Denver, a village in Norfolk, England. The place name itself is thought to derive from Old English Dena (of the Danes) and fær (passage or ford), roughly translating to 'Danes' passage.' The name gained prominence in the United States through the city of Denver, Colorado, named after politician James W. Denver. As a given name, it began to see regular use in the late 20th century, likely influenced by the city's association with the American West.
Where Denver is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Denver” around the world
Where Denver lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
20
babies in 2024
Quebec
7
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Den, Denny, D
Variants: Denvyr
Sibling names for Denver
Names that share Denver's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Denver
Names whose popularity has moved with Denver's over the last 50 years.
