Denise is a French feminine given name derived from the Greek name Dionysia, which was the feminine form of Dionysios. The name Dionysios comes from the Greek god Dionysus, the god of wine, vegetation, pleasure, festivity, madness and wild frenzy.

The name Denise first appeared in France during the medieval period as a variant of the name Denisette. It was originally a diminutive form of the masculine name Denis, which was the French form of the Latin name Dionysius.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Denise can be found in the 12th century French epic poem "The Song of Roland," where a character named Denise is mentioned. In the poem, Denise is the wife of the Frankish knight Samson.

Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Denise. One of the most famous was Denise Levertov (1923-1997), an American-born British poet who was known for her free verse and her exploration of spiritual and political themes.

Another notable Denise was Denise Darvall (1926-1998), an Australian singer and actress who was one of the first Australian female pop stars and had several hit songs in the 1950s and 1960s.

In the world of sports, Denise Lewis (born 1972) is a British former athlete who won the gold medal in the heptathlon at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Denise Grover Swank (born 1968) is an American author best known for her contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels.

Denise Crosby (born 1957) is an American actress and television personality, best known for her roles in films and TV shows such as "Pet Sematary" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation."