Denny: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#4,284

among boys · ↑64 vs 2024

Babies in 2025

named Denny

How common

1 in 71,170

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1947

445 babies

All-time total

15,819

#956 all-time among boys

First recorded

1889

in Social Security records

Denny popularity over time

15,819 babies have been named Denny since 1889, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

BoysGirls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	5	5	1	–	#1,006
1890s	–	11	11	1	+120%	#1,032
1900s	–	26	26	3	+136%	#1,072
1910s	–	157	157	16	+504%	#1,211
1920s	14	458	472	47	+201%	#766
1930s	36	1,250	1,286	129	+172%	#381
1940s	59	3,011	3,070	307	+139%	#325
1950s	103	2,693	2,796	280	-9%	#392
1960s	56	2,447	2,503	250	-10%	#456
1970s	79	1,942	2,021	202	-19%	#517
1980s	33	1,223	1,256	126	-38%	#693
1990s	15	895	910	91	-28%	#1,009
2000s	–	707	707	71	-22%	#1,533
2010s	–	439	439	44	-38%	#2,008
2020s (to 2025)	7	153	160	27	-39%	#3,555

Where Denny is heading

A five-year projection from the recent trend in births per 1,000 boys (damped so it flattens over time), converted to babies at today's birth totals. The implied rank places that projection in the 2025 field. A projection, not a promise: real trends bend.

Year	Projected babies	Per 1,000 boys	Implied rank
2026	24	0.01	outside top 500
2027	23	0.01	outside top 500
2028	23	0.01	outside top 500
2029	23	0.01	outside top 500
2030	23	0.01	outside top 500

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.

How old are people named Denny?

The median living Denny is about 57 years old; half are between 41 and 70. An estimated 11 thousand people named Denny are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

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

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Denny Doherty Canadian singer and musician (1940–2007) Contemporary
2 Denny Hamlin American racing driver and team owner (born 1980) Contemporary
3 Denny Laine English rock musician (1944–2023) Contemporary
4 Denny Landzaat Dutch footballer (born 1976) Contemporary
5 Denny Morrison Canadian speed skater (born 1985) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Denny, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Denny?

The median living Denny is about 57 years old. Half of all living Dennys are between 41 and 70 years old.

How many people named Denny are alive today?

An estimated 11 thousand people named Denny are alive in the United States, based on 15,819 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

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.

Will Denny become more popular?

Denny looks stable. If the recent trend holds, we project roughly 23 boys named Denny in 2030, ranking outside the top 500. Forecasts assume the current trend continues and become less certain further out.

Who are famous people named Denny?

Well-known people named Denny include Denny Doherty (singer), Denny Hamlin (racing driver), Denny Laine (musician).

Names like Denny

Names that sound and feel close to Denny: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Denny with similar names → More names starting with D →