Dennis
Dennis comes from the Greek "Dionysios," meaning "follower of Dionysus" — the god of wine, fertility, and theater. Saint Denis was a 3rd-century bishop of Paris who was martyred by decapitation and, according to legend, carried his severed head for several miles while preaching. He is the patron saint of France. Dennis was a top-50 American name from 1935 to 1975, peaking at #19 in 1949. Dennis (the actor Dennis Hopper, 1936-2010, known for "Easy Rider" (1969) and "Blue Velvet" (1986)) gave the name a counterculture charge. Dennis (the cartoon character Dennis the Menace, created by Hank Ketcham in 1951) gave the name a beloved pop-culture anchor. I find Dennis has a slightly mid-century quality — the "D" opening is firm, and the "ss" gives it softness. The name has been outside the US top 300 since 2010. Dennis is a male name of Greek origin that means "Follower of Dionysus". Mid-century, friendly, and a little mischievous. The name sounds approachable. Dennises tend to be social. US peaked #19 in 1949. Outside top 300 since 2010. Well-known people named Dennis include Saint Denis (martyr), Dennis Hopper (actor), Dennis the Menace (fictional), Dennis (Greek name). Common variations and related forms of Dennis include Denis (French), Dionysios (Greek original), Denys (Ukrainian), Denny (nickname).