Denys

Denys is a masculine given name, a variant of Dennis. It derives from the Greek name Dionysios, which is associated with Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry. The name entered Western Europe via Latinized forms such as Dionysius, and in French the equivalent Denis became common; in English-language contexts the spelling Denys has persisted as an alternative to Dennis.

The root Dionysios is often interpreted as meaning “follower of Dionysus” or “of Dionysos.” Over time, Denis/Denys and Dennis developed into distinct spellings, with pronunciation that is frequently the same across variants, though local usage and orthography vary by region.

Denys is now relatively uncommon as a given name, more often found in older records or as a surname variant in families. It tends to occur in English-speaking regions and, less commonly, in French contexts where Denis is standard. Notable individuals named Denys include Canadian film director Denys Arcand; British hunter Denys Finch Hatton; Guernsey poet Denys Corbet; and British architect Denys Lasdun.

See also: Denis, Dennis, and Dionysius for related given names and spellings.