Denzel

Denzel - A very unique male name

Denzel appeared on the charts for the first time in 1916 on position #1459. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Denzel and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Denzel? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Denzel. The baby boy name Denzel was given to 129 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1158 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 11,367 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Denzel peaked in popularity 33 years ago in 1993 on position 313.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Denzel, 1-5?

Denzel is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Denzel is currently topping the baby name charts in Massachusetts at position #636 - and is the least popular in Georgia at position #1,248.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Denzel is where you live.

---

Comment and discuss

---

Denzel origin and meaning

Cornish (transferred surname)

Uncertain — a transferred Cornish surname, from the place name Denzell in Cornwall; the place name's own meaning (often given as 'fort on the hill') is not established

Denzel was a rare Cornish surname borrowing until Denzel Washington's stardom turned it into a recognised first name: US use jumped in the late 1980s and peaked in 1993. The surname comes from Denzell, a Cornish place whose elements are disputed, so tidy meanings should be treated as guesses. Use has eased down slowly since the 1990s peak.

Origin uncertain

Denzel is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Denzel, pop culture references for the name Denzel and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Denzel

We've found the following names that sound similar to Denzel, sorted by popularity.

Deangelo / Dangelo / Denzil / Denzell / Danzel / Donzell / Diangelo / Dencil / Donzel / Dawensley /

---

Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Denzel

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Denzel a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Denzel?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

---

Pronunciation

den-ZEL · /dɛnˈzɛl/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Denzell — The fuller surname spelling, also used as a first name
• Denzil — The older Cornish form — a separate established name

Nicknames: DenZel

Famous bearers

• Denzel Washington — Actor (Glory, Malcolm X, Training Day), whose fame made Denzel a mainstream first name (b. 1954) Contemporary
• Denzel Curry — Rapper (Melt My Eyez See Your Future) (b. 1995) Contemporary

Style

Surname

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Denzel almost entirely on the strength of Denzel Washington — a name that signals dignity and achievement.

Worth knowing

• The association with Washington is total; expect the comparison to be made constantly