Gender Masculine
Scripts Денис(Russian)
Pronounced Pron. DU-NEE(French) dyi-NYEES(Russian) DEHN-is(English) DEH-nis(German, Czech)  [key·IPA]

Meaning & History

From Denys or Denis, the medieval French forms of Dionysius. Saint Denis was a 3rd-century missionary to Gaul and the first bishop of Paris. He was martyred by decapitation, after which legend says he picked up his own severed head and walked for a distance while preaching a sermon. He is credited with converting the Gauls to Christianity and is considered the patron saint of France.

This name was common in France during the Middle Ages, and it was imported by the Normans to England. It is now regularly spelled Dennis in the English-speaking world. A notable bearer was the French philosopher Denis Diderot (1713-1784).

Related Names

VariantsDennis(English) Dennis(German) Dionýz(Slovak) Dionisie(Romanian)
DiminutivesDen, Denny(English)
Feminine FormsDenise(French) Denice, Denise(English) Denisa(Czech) Denisa(Slovak) Denisa(Romanian) Denisa(Albanian)
Other Languages & CulturesDeion, Deon(African American) Dionysios, Dionysius, Dion(Ancient Greek) Dzianis(Belarusian) Dionysius(Biblical) Dennis(Dutch) Dionysios(Greek) Dénes(Hungarian) Dionisio(Italian) Tenney(Medieval English) Dinis, Dionísio, Diniz(Portuguese) Dênis(Portuguese (Brazilian)) Dionisio(Spanish) Denys(Ukrainian)
Surname DescendantDenis(French)
Place Name DescendantSaint Denis(French)
Same SpellingDênis
User SubmissionDenís

Popularity

People think this name is

classic   common   wholesome   refined   simple  

Name Days

France: October 9

Images

Statue of Saint Denis (middle) at Notre Dame, ParisStatue of Saint Denis (middle) at Notre Dame, Paris

Categories

Entry updated December 7, 2022