How to say it
DEN · im
ˈdɛn.ɪm
Masculine
Denim
The fabric denim
What it means
A modern word name from the fabric denim, short for the French serge de Nîmes, 'twill from Nîmes.'
Denim is a modern word name taken straight from the fabric. The word is a worn-down form of the French serge de Nîmes, 'serge cloth from Nîmes,' the southern French city where the sturdy cotton twill was made. In English it shrank from serge de Nim to serge denim to simply denim. There is no ancient personal name behind it; the appeal is the everyday, hard-wearing, all-American texture of the word. Denim entered the US top 1000 for boys in 2025 alongside other casual word names.
How to spell Denim
Spelled Denim. D · e · n · i · m — 5 letters total.
Popularity over time
peaked at #880 in 2025, currently #880 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
DEN-im, like the fabric.
- Spelling
A word name; there is no older personal-name history behind it.
Names with the same feeling
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By style
Common questions
- What does the name Denim mean?
- A modern word name from the fabric denim, short for the French serge de Nîmes, 'twill from Nîmes.'
- What does Denim mean in American English?
- In American English, Denim means "The fabric denim." Denim is a modern word name taken straight from the fabric. The word is a worn-down form of the French serge de Nîmes, 'serge cloth from Nîmes,' the southern French city where the sturdy cotton twill was made. In English it shrank from serge de Nim to serge denim to simply denim. There is no ancient personal name behind it; the appeal is the everyday, hard-wearing, all-American texture of the word. Denim entered the US top 1000 for boys in 2025 alongside other casual word names.
- How do you pronounce Denim?
- Denim is pronounced ˈdɛn.ɪm. Say it as DEN-im, with the stress on the "den" syllable.
- How do you spell Denim?
- The name is spelled D-e-n-i-m.
- Is Denim a boy or girl name?
- Denim is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Denim?
- Denim ranked #880 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.