Denali
Denali, federally designated as Mount McKinley, is the highest mountain peak in North America, with a summit elevation of 20,310 feet (6,190 m) above sea level. It is the tallest mountain in the world from base to peak on land, measuring 18,000 ft (5,500 m).
Meaning & Origin of Denali
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Denali, federally designated as Mount McKinley, is the highest mountain peak in North America, with a summit elevation of 20,310 feet (6,190 m) above sea level. It is the tallest mountain in the world from base to peak on land, measuring 18,000 ft (5,500 m).
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Origin & history
The Story of Denali
As a girl name
Denali first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1977, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2022, when 94 Denalis were born — ranking #2,047 that year. As of 2026, Denali ranks #2,095 for girls with 92 births, rising sharply (+19% over the past five years). In total, more than 2K Denalis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Denali first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1994, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2023, when 42 Denalis were born — ranking #2,948 that year. As of 2026, Denali ranks #3,371 for boys with 35 births, rising sharply (+43% over the past five years). In total, more than 722 Denalis have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1990s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Denali
Phonetically similar names — useful when Denali is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Denali
What does the name Denali mean?
How popular is Denali in 2026?
When was Denali most popular?
In which U.S. states is Denali most popular?
Is Denali a unisex name?
What names go well with Denali?
About the name Denali
Denali is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1977 and has accumulated 2K births in the dataset. Denali's peak popularity came in 2022 when it ranked #2,047. Use the chart and map above to compare Denali's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2022 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "D" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.