Denver

Denver is familiar as the name of Colorado’s capital, which was named for James W. Denver. As a personal name, it can therefore carry a specific place connection or preserve a family surname. Older explanations of the surname differ, so a meaning such as “green valley” should not be assumed for everyone who chooses it.

Toni Morrison used Denver for a character in Beloved, giving the name a literary reference alongside its American geography. It is used for boys and girls. Parents may value a connection with Colorado, the novel, or their own ancestry; identifying that reason gives Denver a more personal story than a generic landscape translation.