Dionysius
/ˌdaɪ.əˈnɪs.i.əs/noun
A masculine given name derived from the name of the Greek god Dionysus.
Did you know?Dionysius is a Latinized form of the Greek name Dionysios, originally meaning “of Dionysus,” and it preserves the name of a god tied to ecstatic rites, theater, and transformation.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
Διονύσιος (Dionýsios)
“Belonging to Dionysus; a personal name meaning “of Dionysus.””
Classical Greek
Greek
Διόνυσος (Diónysos)
“The Greek god of wine, fertility, ecstasy, and theater.”
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dyeu-
“To shine; sky, daylight, or the bright sky-god associated with Zeus.”
Latin
Latin
Dionysius
“Latinized personal name used in Roman and later Christian contexts.”
Modern English
English
Dionysius
“A historical or literary male name, especially associated with Greek and Christian figures.”