Find out how popular the first name Denzel has been for the last 44 years (from 1980 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Denzel by gender

Based on the last 44 years of data, Denzel is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Denzel being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 194 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Denzel.

The history of the first name Denzel

The name Denzel is of German origin, derived from the surname Denzel or Dentzler, which is a diminutive form of the German name Denis. Denis itself is the French form of the Latin name Dionysius, meaning "follower of Dionysus," the Greek god of wine and revelry.

In the Middle Ages, the name Denzel was particularly common in the regions of Bavaria and Swabia in southern Germany. It was often used as a personal name or a surname, with various spellings such as Denzel, Denzler, and Denzler.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Denzel dates back to the 13th century, when a nobleman named Denzel von Rothenburg was mentioned in historical records from the city of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Bavaria. However, the name's popularity grew significantly during the Renaissance period, particularly in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Denzel. One of the most famous was Denzel Gerhard Müller (1516-1591), a German theologian and Reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. Another prominent figure was Denzel Chetham (1615-1692), an English landowner and benefactor who made significant contributions to the town of Manchester.

In the 19th century, Denzel Walther Stucke (1827-1909) was a German-American musician and composer who helped establish the Milwaukee Music Society in Wisconsin. Denzel Washington (born 1954) is perhaps the most well-known bearer of the name in modern times, an acclaimed American actor who has won numerous awards, including two Academy Awards.

Another notable individual with the name Denzel was Denzel Merrill Curry (1898-1958), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Curry Company, a major manufacturer of transportation equipment. His contributions to the industry and his philanthropic efforts in his hometown of Denver, Colorado, earned him a place in the Colorado Business Hall of Fame.

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 Denzel was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!