Denim
Denim is a sturdy cotton warp-faced textile in which the weft passes under two or more warp threads. This twill weave produces a diagonal ribbing that distinguishes it from cotton duck. Denim, as it is recognised today, was first produced in Nîmes, France.
Meaning & Origin of Denim
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Denim is a sturdy cotton warp-faced textile in which the weft passes under two or more warp threads. This twill weave produces a diagonal ribbing that distinguishes it from cotton duck. Denim, as it is recognised today, was first produced in Nîmes, France.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Etymology
Origin & history
The Story of Denim
As a girl name
Denim first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1988, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 93 Denims were born — ranking #2,077 that year. As of 2026, Denim ranks #2,077 for girls with 93 births, rising sharply (+29% over the past five years). In total, more than 1K Denims have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Denim first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1973, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 197 Denims were born — ranking #1,095 that year. As of 2026, Denim ranks #1,095 for boys with 197 births, rising sharply (+30% over the past five years). In total, more than 3K Denims have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1970s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Denim
Phonetically similar names — useful when Denim 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 Denim
What does the name Denim mean?
How popular is Denim in 2026?
When was Denim most popular?
In which U.S. states is Denim most popular?
Is Denim a unisex name?
What names go well with Denim?
About the name Denim
Denim is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1973 and has accumulated 3K births in the dataset. Denim's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #1,095. Use the chart and map above to compare Denim's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2026 →
- Names of the 2020s →
- Names starting with "D" →
- Browse all boy 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.