UK boy's name
Denilson
A masculine name with Portuguese origins, meaning "the son of Dennis".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2007. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Denilson is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Denilson popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2007 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4333, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 4 births.
This profile covers 16 England and Wales registrations across 5 recorded years from 1998 to 2007. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 16 living people in the UK are called Denilson. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2008 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Denilson ranked #4333 for boys in England and Wales in 2007, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1999, when 4 boys were registered as Denilson.
- • About 16 living people in the UK are estimated to have Denilson as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4333
2007
Births in 2007
3
Latest year
Peak year
1999
4 births
Estimated living
16
2026
Meaning
What does Denilson mean?
The given name Denilson originated from the Portuguese language and culture. It is a combination of the prefix "de-" meaning "from" or "belonging to" and the name "Nilson," which is derived from the Scandinavian name "Nilsson" meaning "son of Neil." The name Denilson gained prominence in Portugal during the medieval period, particularly among the nobility and upper class.
In the 15th century, the name Denilson appeared in several historical records and documents related to the Portuguese exploration and colonization efforts. One notable figure was Denilson de Sousa, a Portuguese navigator who accompanied Vasco da Gama on his voyage to India in 1498. De Sousa played a crucial role in establishing trade routes and establishing Portuguese settlements in the Indian subcontinent.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name Denilson spread to other parts of Europe and the Americas through Portuguese migration and colonial expansion. One of the earliest recorded examples of the name in the Americas was Denilson Fernandez, a Portuguese settler who arrived in Brazil in the mid-16th century and became a prominent landowner and farmer.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Denilson. One of the most famous was Denilson de Oliveira Araújo (born 1976), a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder for clubs like São Paulo, Barcelona, and the Brazilian national team. He was part of the Brazilian team that won the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Another notable figure was Denilson Pereira Neves (1915-1986), a Brazilian novelist and short story writer known for his works that explored the lives of the working class and the struggle for social justice. His novel "O Último Caudilho" (The Last Caudillo) is considered a classic of Brazilian literature.
In the field of music, Denilson Martins Nascimento (born 1985), known professionally as Denilson Martins, is a Brazilian singer and songwriter who has released several successful albums and has been recognized with various music awards in Brazil.
Denilson Chirichigno (born 1979) is a Peruvian actor and television host who has appeared in numerous telenovelas and films, both in Peru and internationally. He is known for his roles in productions like "Dueños del Paraíso" and "Mi Amor, el Wachimán."
Lastly, Denilson de Oliveira Araújo (born 1988), a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder, has represented clubs like São Paulo, Flamengo, and the Brazilian national team. He was part of the Brazilian squad that won the 2016 Olympic gold medal in football.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Denilson over time
The chart below shows babies named Denilson registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 to 2007. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Denilson, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2007, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Denilson by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Denilson was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3564 | 9 | 3 |
| 1990s | #2663 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Denilson
- Daniel 120,900
- Dylan 60,836
- David 37,852
- Dominic 20,480
- Declan 11,657
- Dexter 11,627
- Danny 8,434
- Dean 5,329
- Dillon 4,113
- Douglas 3,773
- Dominik 3,494
- Damian 3,486
FAQ
Denilson: questions and answers
How popular is the name Denilson in the UK right now?
In 2007, Denilson was ranked #4333 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Denilson most popular?
The peak year on record was 1999, with 4 babies registered as Denilson in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Denilson?
A masculine name with Portuguese origins, meaning "the son of Dennis".
How many people are called Denilson in the UK?
A total of 16 babies have been registered as Denilson across the 5 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.