Denzel
- US rank
- #1,166
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #311 in 1993
177 babies were named Denzel in the US in 2025. It has climbed 11 places in five years.
Found on lists
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US births per million boys, 1906–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Denzel you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Denzel
Denzel Washington
American actor (born 1954)
Choose Denzel and your child shares a first name with Denzel Washington, an American actor. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Denzel, like who?” Denzel Washington's Wikipedia article is available in 112 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Denzel Washington on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Gabriel Hutchinson, CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 9,653 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Denzel, 177 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Denzel would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryDenzel first shows up in US birth records in 1906, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 119 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1993, when it ranked #311. Today it's #1,166, so it could be due a comeback.
- Where it's lovedDenzel is most popular in Massachusetts, where it ranks #620, followed by Maryland (#702) and Minnesota (#718). It's in the top 1,000 in 9 states.
About the name Denzel
Denzel is a boy name of American and English origin. It has 6 letters and 2 syllables, starting with D and ending in “-zel”. US birth records list Denzel for boys from 1906 to 2025, in 108 of those 120 years. Its best year was 1993, when it ranked #311 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #1,166, with 177 babies.
Origin:American namesEnglish names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 19 | 52,910 boys |
| 1910s | 23 | 43,215 boys |
| 1920s | 24 | 41,563 boys |
| 1930s | 19 | 52,356 boys |
| 1940s | 11 | 93,110 boys |
| 1950s | 6.1 | 163,666 boys |
| 1960s | 3.5 | 287,356 boys |
| 1970s | 1.5 | 649,351 boys |
| 1980s | 13 | 75,930 boys |
| 1990s | 279 | 3,588 boys |
| 2000s | 106 | 9,397 boys |
| 2010s | 97 | 10,297 boys |
| 2020s | 105 | 9,536 boys |
More American boy names
- Boy name: Henry · ruler of the home
- Unisex name: Maverick · independent, unbranded
- Unisex name: Kai · sea
- Unisex name: Jace · healer
- Boy name: Jaxon · son of Jack
- Boy name: Milo · possibly gracious
- Boy name: Bryson · son of Brice
- Boy name: Louis · famous warrior
Questions about the name Denzel
What is the origin of the name Denzel?
Denzel has American, English roots in our records. Other American names include Henry, Maverick, Kai.
Is Denzel a boy or girl name?
Denzel is a boy name.
How popular is the name Denzel?
Denzel ranked #1,166 for US boys in 2025, given to 177 babies. Its best year was 1993 (#311).