Denver first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Denver has been for the last 50 years (from 1975 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Denver

A baby boy's name of uncertain origin potentially meaning "green valley".

Popularity of Denver by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Denver is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 72% of people named Denver being male.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 633 male babies and 362 female babies born with the name Denver.

YearMale CountFemale Count
2024633362
2023583360
2022642321
2021579365
2020542295
2019423300
2018370249
2017273218
2016269181
2015242197
2014188124
201316282
201214066
201114159
201012745
200913247
200816849
200714744
200614640
200515128
200413430
200315732
200214633
200116434
200017529
199921041
199819625
199716114
199614619
199515714
199415816
199312012
199211913
19911185
19901116
1989949
1988979
19871095
19861068
1985930
1984958
19831065
19821186
19811150
19801030
19791209
19781130
19771090
19761116
19751229

The history of the first name Denver

The given name Denver is a relatively modern name, originating in the late 19th century. It is an English name derived from the city of Denver, Colorado, which was founded in 1858 and named after James W. Denver, the governor of Kansas Territory at the time. The city itself was likely named after the nearby Denver Creek, whose name may have come from the French term for "green valley."

While the name Denver does not have ancient roots or connections to historical texts or religious scriptures, it gained popularity as a first name in the United States in the early 20th century. One of the earliest recorded individuals with the given name Denver was Denver S. Dickerson, born in 1907 in Texas. Dickerson was a noted educator and civil rights leader who served as the president of several historically black colleges and universities.

Another notable individual named Denver was Denver Pyle, an American actor born in 1920. Pyle was best known for his roles in television shows such as The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp and The Dukes of Hazzard. He had a successful career spanning over five decades and passed away in 1997.

Denver Nuggets, born in 1926 in Mississippi, was a professional baseball player who played in the Negro Leagues and later for the Philadelphia Stars. He was known for his exceptional defensive skills as an outfielder and played a significant role in breaking down racial barriers in professional baseball.

Denver Randleman, born in 1951, is an American businessman and entrepreneur who co-founded the successful footwear company Reebok. He played a crucial role in the company's growth and expansion, helping to establish Reebok as a leading brand in the athletic footwear industry.

Denver Moore, born in 1936, was a former homeless man whose life story was chronicled in the bestselling book "Same Kind of Different as Me." His friendship with a wealthy art dealer and their journey of mutual understanding and redemption inspired many and shed light on the struggles of homelessness and poverty.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Denver was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Denver, please contact us.

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