Denzel
Denzel was the 1166th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 177 babies. Its best year was 1993, when it ranked 311th with 864 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 115 places. More babies were named Denzel in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Meaning Not yet researched how we research meanings
- Rank in 2025
- #1,166 boys, up 16 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 177boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 1993864 babies
- Total since 1880
- 11,779babies recorded
Denzel popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 41 since 1914.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,166 | 177 |
| 2020 | #1,182 | 163 |
| 2010 | #1,072 | 180 |
| 2000 | #776 | 214 |
| 1990 | #444 | 496 |
| 1980 | #6,489 | 5 |
| 1970 | #4,364 | 6 |
| 1960 | #3,420 | 7 |
| 1950 | #2,047 | 14 |
| 1940 | #2,712 | 8 |
| 1930 | #1,372 | 28 |
| 1920 | #1,605 | 23 |
| 1910 | #1,463 | 6 |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Denzel, counting every spelling?
Denzel is the most common spelling of a name family that ranked #1,066 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,166 for Denzel on its own. Together these spellings went to 189 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denzel | 177 | #1,166 | 923 |
| Denzell | 12 | #6,903 | 50 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Denzel?
177 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Denzel (0.05 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Denzel born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 47 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Denzel.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Denzel?
About 10,700 people born in the US named Denzel are alive today, with a median age of 28; half are between 15 and 33. That makes Denzel mostly worn by children and young adults.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Denzel by state
How common Denzel was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Maryland (2.0×), New Jersey (2.0×), Massachusetts (1.8×), Florida (1.7×), New York (1.6×). In 28 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Denzel: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Denzel, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Denzel
How popular is the name Denzel?
Denzel was the 1166th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 177 babies. Its best year was 1993, when it ranked 311th with 864 babies. Over the last ten years it has moved down 115 places. More babies were named Denzel in the 1990s than in any other decade.
Is Denzel a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Denzel in the US.
Where is Denzel most popular?
In 2021–2025, Denzel was most common in Maryland (0.22 per 1,000 boys), followed by New Jersey and Massachusetts.