Damian

Meaning of Damian

Damian derives from the Greek Damianos, which comes from the verb daman, “to tame” or “to subdue,” and is usually translated as “tamer” or “subduer.” A few dictionaries mention a possible connection to Damia, a minor Greek goddess of fertility, but the explanation from daman is the one standard references agree on. English speakers say DAY-mee-ən; in Polish the name is DAH-myan.

The best-known religious association is Saint Damian, twin brother of Saint Cosmas and, like him, a physician. The two are venerated as patron saints of doctors and pharmacists and are said to have been martyred, traditionally during the persecution under Diocletian. In modern culture the name is strongly linked to the child antichrist of the 1976 film The Omen, an association some parents weigh. Among well-known living namesakes are the NBA guard Damian Lillard and the British actor Damian Lewis.

In the United States, Damian stayed uncommon for most of the twentieth century: 339 boys received it in 1970, when it ranked 446th. It climbed sharply through the 1970s and 1980s and first reached the top 100 in 2012, at 99th. Its highest rank came a year later, 98th, with 3,976 births. In 2025 it was given to 3,213 babies and ranked 109th, so the name remains solidly established without returning to its 2013 high point.

Pronunciation

Polish

• Pronunced as DAH-myan (/ˈdamjan/)

English

• Pronunced as DAY-mee-ən (/ˈdeɪmiən/)

• Damien
• Damian
• Damon
• Damion
• Damiano