Denis
/D-EH-N-IH-S/
Follower of Dionysus — the Russian form of Dennis, from Greek Dionysios. Borne by the poet-hussar Denis Davydov, who pioneered partisan-warfare tactics during the campaign against Napoleon and became the model for a cavalry officer in Tolstoy's War and Peace. A name joining ancient Greek revelry to the dash of Russian military romance.
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How well does Denis fit your family?
This page tells you what Denis means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against your family & your heritage, and your baby's birth details.
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Six signals — scored for your family & heritage, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Yes — Denis is a Christian boy name of Russian origin, meaning “Follower of Dionysus — the Russian form of Dennis, from Greek Dionysios. Borne by the poet-hussar Denis Davydov, who pioneered partisan-warfare tactics during the campaign against Napoleon and became the model for a cavalry officer in Tolstoy's War and Peace. A name joining ancient Greek revelry to the dash of Russian military romance.”.
Denis is a boy's name of Russian origin, traditionally used in Christian families. The name means "Follower of Dionysus — the Russian form of Dennis, from Greek Dionysios. Borne by the poet-hussar Denis Davydov, who pioneered partisan-warfare tactics during the campaign against Napoleon and became the model for a cavalry officer in Tolstoy's War and Peace. A name joining ancient Greek revelry to the dash of Russian military romance." and belongs to the Joy cluster — names that celebrate happiness and lightness of spirit.
Common among Russian, Ukrainian families, Denis carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
The patron saint & feast day behind Denis
Many Christian names carry a patron saint and a feast day (name day) — a tradition of choosing a name for the saint a child is born near, or one the family holds dear. Denis lives in this tradition of meaning and heritage.
NameRoot connects the dots. See Denis's patron saint, its feast day, and whether it aligns with your baby's birth — alongside its full family score.
See Denis's saint & feast day →What does Denis's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Denis resonates in either tradition.
Denis's destiny number is 6 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Denis's full reading →
Does Denis go with your family's names?
Denis breaks into 5 sounds: /D-EH-N-IH-S/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Denis sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Denis beside your family's names →
Nicknames
Common affectionate forms of Denis — useful for everyday family conversation, early childhood, or as standalone given names themselves.
Names similar to Denis
If Denis resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Christian boy names, common in Russian families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Christian boy names from the Joy cluster
Names that sound similar
Christian boy names that open with the same syllables as Denis
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Denis — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Denis
What does the name Denis mean?
Denis means "Follower of Dionysus — the Russian form of Dennis, from Greek Dionysios. Borne by the poet-hussar Denis Davydov, who pioneered partisan-warfare tactics during the campaign against Napoleon and became the model for a cavalry officer in Tolstoy's War and Peace. A name joining ancient Greek revelry to the dash of Russian military romance.." It is a boy name of Russian origin, traditionally used in Christian families.
Is Denis a boy or girl name?
Denis is most commonly used as a boy name.
What is the origin of the name Denis?
Denis is of Russian origin, used in Christian tradition, commonly among Russian, Ukrainian families.
Is Denis a Christian name?
Yes. Denis is a boy name traditionally used in Christian families, of Russian origin.
What does Denis mean in Russian?
Denis originates from Russian, where it means "Follower of Dionysus — the Russian form of Dennis, from Greek Dionysios. Borne by the poet-hussar Denis Davydov, who pioneered partisan-warfare tactics during the campaign against Napoleon and became the model for a cavalry officer in Tolstoy's War and Peace. A name joining ancient Greek revelry to the dash of Russian military romance.."
What are common nicknames for Denis?
Common short forms of Denis include Den.
What is the numerology of Denis?
Denis has a Pythagorean destiny number of 6 — nurturing and family devotion.
Is Denis a saint's name?
Yes — Denis is honoured as a Christian saint's name, linked to the patron saint of France.
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