Denise

Denise is the French feminine form of Denis, which derives from the Latin Dionysius and ultimately from the Greek Dionysios, meaning "follower of Dionysus," the Greek god of wine and festivity. The name was widely adopted in medieval Europe largely through the veneration of Saint Denis, the third-century bishop of Paris who became the patron saint of France. Denise gained broad popularity in the English-speaking world during the twentieth century. Related forms include Denice, Denyse, and the masculine Denis and Dennis.