Total births
1,321
Boys' name · since 1987
Denzell
Denzell has 1,321 recorded births since 1987 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1992 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #8556
- among boys today
- 1,321
- born since 1987
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 40%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Denzell is the #8556 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 1,321 recorded since 1987.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Denzell has been recorded 1,321 times among boys since 1987, currently ranked #8556 nationally and more common than 40% of boys, with its heaviest use in the 1990s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1987 to 2025.
- #8556 among boys today
- 1,321 born since 1987
- 1990s peak decade
- 40% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Denzell is currently the #8556 boys' name in America, more common than 40% of boys - 1,321 born since 1987, peaking in the 1990s.
- #8556
- among boys today
- 1,321
- born since 1987
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 40%
- more common than other boys
Denzell vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#8556
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 40% of names given to boys today.
1990s
Peak decade
65% of everyone ever named Denzell was born in this single decade.
1992
Single peak year
160 babies were named Denzell in 1992 - its busiest year on record.
How Denzell compares
1,321 Top 27% higher than 73% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Denzell's all-time total is 4x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Denzell | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 1,321 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 160 | 23 | 22,252 |
Denzell's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Denzell's SSA record in two at 2006 and the more recent half accounts for 23% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 77%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1989, with only 7 births recorded -- set against the 1992 peak of 160, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Denzell at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1992
Current rank
#8,556
Active since
1987
Denzell popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1987–2025
- Peak year (1992)
- 160
- Annual births at peak, across 39 years of records
Denzell by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1990s was Denzell's strongest decade.
861 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 65% of all-time use.
Denzell births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1980s 25
1980s
25 births
- 1990s
1990s
861 births
- 2000s 198
2000s
198 births
- 2010s 173
2010s
173 births
- 2020s 64
2020s
64 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 861 births (65% of all-time use).
How Denzell compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Denzell's total volume
Denzell vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Denzell by state
Where Denzell concentrates geographically, total births since 1987
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Illinois | | 94 | 7.1% |
| #2 | Michigan | | 59 | 4.5% |
| #3 | Texas | | 54 | 4.1% |
| #4 | New York | | 50 | 3.8% |
| #5 | California | | 44 | 3.3% |
| #6 | Louisiana | | 39 | 3.0% |
| #7 | Florida | | 36 | 2.7% |
| #8 | Ohio | | 32 | 2.4% |
Illinois share of Denzell's total US births 7.1%
Even split
94 of 1,321 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 16 reporting states.
Denzell appears in 16 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Denzell? ▼
1,321 babies have been named Denzell since 1987. It currently ranks #8556 among boys. The peak year was 1992 with 160 births.
When was Denzell most popular? ▼
Denzell was most popular in the 1990s decade with 861 total births. The single peak year was 1992.
Where is Denzell most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Denzell are Illinois (94 births), Michigan (59 births), Texas (54 births).
How long has the name Denzell been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Denzell since 1987 -- 39 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Denzell? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Dennis, Denis, Denver, Denny, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Denzell's data
- Denzell's decade-level peak was the 1990s (861 total births); usage has since declined to 64 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Illinois records the most Denzells (94 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Illinois names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Denzell
Nearby Names Like Denzell
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Denzell
Dennis Boy
#708 621,000 births
Denis Boy
#1641 20,733 births
Denver Boy
#488 19,178 births
Denny Boy
#4326 15,417 births
Denzel Boy
#1026 11,738 births
Compare Denzell side by side: Denzell vs Dennis Denzell vs Denis Denzell vs Denver
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Denzell
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1987–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Denzell: #8556 Boys' Name - 1,321 Births, Peak 1992." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/denzell. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Denzell draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.