Denny
A diminutive of the male given names Denis or Dennis.
Every Denny since 1889 — 15,819 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Denny
Denny is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #4,284 in 2025 with 24 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1889, 15,819 American babies have been named Denny. Its peak came in 1947, when 445 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1940s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Denny stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Denny year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 24 | #4,284 |
| 2024 | — | — | 24 | #4,348 |
| 2023 | — | — | 30 | #3,734 |
| 2022 | — | — | 32 | #3,555 |
| 2021 | — | — | 26 | #4,040 |
| 2020 | 7 | #12,480 | 17 | #5,304 |
| 2019 | — | — | 32 | #3,509 |
| 2018 | — | — | 34 | #3,314 |
| 2017 | — | — | 33 | #3,398 |
| 2016 | — | — | 31 | #3,545 |
| 2015 | — | — | 48 | #2,573 |
| 2014 | — | — | 44 | #2,720 |
| 2013 | — | — | 44 | #2,679 |
| 2012 | — | — | 42 | #2,831 |
| 2011 | — | — | 68 | #2,008 |
| 2010 | — | — | 63 | #2,126 |
| 2009 | — | — | 50 | #2,535 |
| 2008 | — | — | 65 | #2,106 |
| 2007 | — | — | 85 | #1,748 |
| 2006 | — | — | 78 | #1,776 |
| 2005 | — | — | 68 | #1,872 |
| 2004 | — | — | 73 | #1,735 |
| 2003 | — | — | 73 | #1,689 |
| 2002 | — | — | 81 | #1,533 |
| 2001 | — | — | 68 | #1,702 |
| 2000 | — | — | 66 | #1,715 |
| 1995 | — | — | 88 | #1,240 |
| 1990 | 5 | #13,528 | 88 | #1,156 |
| 1985 | 7 | #8,574 | 117 | #825 |
| 1980 | — | — | 139 | #746 |
| 1975 | 7 | #7,354 | 200 | #570 |
| 1970 | — | — | 244 | #517 |
| 1965 | 6 | #5,970 | 237 | #496 |
| 1960 | 13 | #3,545 | 309 | #456 |
| 1955 | 10 | #3,846 | 238 | #476 |
| 1950 | 6 | #4,866 | 296 | #392 |
| 1945 | 5 | #4,704 | 273 | #360 |
| 1940 | — | — | 187 | #426 |
| 1935 | 8 | #3,223 | 127 | #509 |
| 1930 | — | — | 76 | #718 |
| 1925 | — | — | 39 | #1,127 |
| 1920 | — | — | 32 | #1,280 |
| 1915 | — | — | 21 | #1,517 |
| 1910 | — | — | 5 | #1,650 |
| 1905 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | 7 | #1,072 |
| 1895 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Denny
- Denny Doherty Singer · 1940–2007
- Denny Laine Musician · b. 1944
- Denny Landzaat Soccer player · b. 1976
- Denny Hamlin Racing driver · b. 1980
- Denny Morrison Athlete · b. 1985
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Denny mean?
A diminutive of the male given names Denis or Dennis.
How popular is the name Denny in 2025?
Denny ranked #4,284 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 24 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Denny?
15,819 babies have been named Denny in the United States since 1889, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Denny most popular?
Denny peaked in 1947, when 445 newborns received the name.
Is Denny a boy or girl name?
Denny is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 97% of babies with the name.
Is the name Denny rising or falling?
Denny is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Denny?
Well-known people named Denny include Denny Doherty (singer), Denny Laine (musician), Denny Landzaat (soccer player).