Denna
Meaning of Denna
Denna is a feminine given name of Old English provenance, most likely derived from the element denu, meaning “valley,” to which the Latin-influenced feminine suffix -a was appended, thereby originally denoting “she of the valley.” Pronounced /ˈdɛnə/, its taut yet mellifluous two-syllable structure distinguishes it from similar forms such as Donna, with which it is sometimes erroneously conflated. According to data from the United States Social Security Administration, Denna achieved its greatest relative frequency in the mid-twentieth century—briefly entering the 600–700 rank bracket—before gradually receding into the lower 900s over the past decade; in 2023, eleven newborn girls bore the name, placing it at rank 947. In contemporary usage, Denna is frequently associated with qualities of quiet resilience, scholarly inclination and a subtle artistic sensibility, and though it has never attained widespread ubiquity, it endures as a distinctive choice within the Anglo-American naming repertoire.
Pronunciation
American English
- Pronunced as DEN-uh (/'dɛnə/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Denna
| Denna Laing - |
