Dennis

Dennis is an English, German, and Dutch given name derived from the medieval Latin Dionysius, which traces back to the Greek Dionysios, meaning "of Dionysos," the Greek god of wine and festivity whose own name may combine dios, meaning "of Zeus," with Nysa, the mythological mountain where he was raised. The name was popularized in medieval Europe largely through Saint Denis, the third-century bishop of Paris who became the patron saint of France. Dennis rose to particular prominence in English-speaking countries during the twentieth century, partly through cultural figures such as the fictional mischievous boy Dennis the Menace. Related forms include Denis, Denys, Dionys, Dionysius, and the feminine Denise.