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Denise

Girl name · 1,575 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Denise: 1,575 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 142 births in 1978.

With roots in the Greek name Dionysius, meaning “follower of Dionysos,” the god of wine and revelry, Denise emerged as the French feminine form of Denis and became widely used across the English-speaking world. Famous bearers include American actress Denise Richards, known for her roles in “Wild Things” and “The World Is Not Enough,” and acclaimed poet Denise Levertov, whose work explored nature and social justice. The name also shares its origin with the French town of Saint-Denis, north of Paris, a historic site linked to the patron saint of Paris. Once a top-100 staple in Scotland during the 1970s, Denise has since become less common, though the variant spelling Denice occasionally appears.