Denzel
Denzel, when used as a male name, ultimately derives from the Cornish language and means "from the high stronghold" or "fertile ground."
Meaning & Origin of Denzel
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Denzel, when used as a male name, ultimately derives from the Cornish language and means "from the high stronghold" or "fertile ground."
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Denzel
American parents first put Denzel on the record books as a baby boy name in 1906, with 6 registered babies. Its peak popularity came in 1993, when 864 Denzels were born — ranking #311 that year. The 1990s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 45% of all recorded Denzels. In the latest 2026 data it stands at #982 among baby boy names with 229 births, rising sharply (+27% over the past five years). In total, more than 12K Denzels have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1900s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Where is Denzel most common?
Predicted country distribution based on naming patterns globally.
- United States43%
- South Africa20%
- Netherlands18%
- ZW10%
- NA10%
Source: Nationalize.io . Probabilities are global naming-pattern estimates, not strict counts.
Names that sound like Denzel
Phonetically similar names — useful when Denzel 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 Denzel
What does the name Denzel mean?
How popular is Denzel in 2026?
When was Denzel most popular?
In which U.S. states is Denzel most popular?
Is Denzel a unisex name?
What names go well with Denzel?
About the name Denzel
Denzel is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1906 and has accumulated 12K births in the dataset. Denzel's peak popularity came in 1993 when it ranked #311. Use the chart and map above to compare Denzel's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1993 →
- Names of the 1990s →
- Names starting with "D" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
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.