Damien Boy

Popularity: #331 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: DAY-mee-ən //ˈdeɪ.mi.ən//

Origin: Greek; Latin; French

Meaning: Greek: to tame; Latin: the one who is devoted

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Damien has its roots in the Greek name Δαμιανός (Damianos), which is derived from the verb δαμάω (damao), meaning 'to tame' or 'to subdue.' This name was adopted into Latin as Damianus, which later influenced its forms in various languages, including Old French and ultimately English. The transition into English occurred during the medieval period, facilitated by the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, which brought many Latin-derived names into the English lexicon.

Historically, the name Damien is most notably associated with Saint Damian, a Christian martyr who, along with his brother Cosmas, was venerated in the early Christian church. Their feast day is celebrated on September 26, and they are recognized as the patron saints of physicians and surgeons.

The earliest references to Saint Damian can be traced back to the 3rd century, and his legacy was solidified through various hagiographies and liturgical texts, including the Golden Legend, compiled in the 13th century. The name gained further prominence through the influence of the Catholic Church and the spread of Christianity across Europe.

Culturally, the name Damien has been imbued with connotations of healing and protection, reflecting the saint's role as a healer. This association has contributed to its endurance in various cultures, particularly within Christian communities.

The name has also inspired various diminutive forms, such as Dami, which have been used in different linguistic contexts. Overall, the name Damien carries a rich historical and cultural significance, rooted in its etymological origins and the legacy of its early bearers.

Famous people named Damien

In this section, you will find notable people named Damien. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Damien who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Damien who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Damien Hirst is an artist best known for The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living, For the Love of God, and The Golden Calf.

Damien Chazelle is a director and screenwriter best known for La La Land, Whiplash, and First Man.

Damien Lewis is an actor best known for Band of Brothers, Homeland, and Billions.

Damien Rice is a singer-songwriter best known for O, 9, and My Favourite Faded Fantasy.

Damien Dempsey is a singer-songwriter best known for his albums Such a Simple Thing, Seize the Day, and To Hell or Barbados.

Fictional characters named Damien

The following list of fictional characters named Damien is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Damien Thorn is a fictional character from the film series The Omen. He is the Antichrist, adopted by a couple who unknowingly raise him as their own child.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Damien, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

DanielDavidDerekDylanDominicDante

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Damien. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

DamonDamianDariusDanteDustinDorianDesmondDawson

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Damien was first seen in the United States in 1936.

Damien has ranked as high as #343 nationally, which occurred in 2007, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Damien has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Damien is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Damien was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Damien.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 935 935 0
2024 1,005 1,005 0
2023 1,013 1,013 0
2022 1,102 1,102 0
2021 1,235 1,235 0
2020 1,216 1,216 0
2019 1,246 1,246 0
2018 1,362 1,362 0
2017 1,355 1,355 0
2016 1,305 1,305 0
2015 1,426 1,426 0
2014 1,509 1,509 0
2013 1,624 1,619 5
2012 1,667 1,667 0
2011 1,835 1,835 0
2010 1,937 1,937 0
2009 2,014 2,014 0
2008 2,118 2,111 7
2007 2,265 2,265 0
2006 1,999 1,993 6
2005 1,939 1,939 0
2004 1,968 1,957 11
2003 1,895 1,890 5
2002 1,658 1,652 6
2001 1,408 1,402 6
2000 1,303 1,303 0
1999 1,129 1,119 10
1998 956 950 6
1997 907 907 0
1996 845 840 5
1995 954 954 0
1994 976 976 0
1993 904 904 0
1992 865 865 0
1991 820 812 8
1990 746 746 0
1989 782 774 8
1988 668 658 10
1987 580 580 0
1986 650 645 5
1985 697 687 10
1984 718 708 10
1983 797 790 7
1982 963 951 12
1981 1,048 1,037 11
1980 1,351 1,338 13
1979 1,343 1,321 22
1978 1,521 1,507 14
1977 846 833 13
1976 675 663 12
1975 552 542 10
1974 671 659 12
1973 355 355 0
1972 280 274 6
1971 154 148 6
1970 129 124 5
1969 93 93 0
1968 85 85 0
1967 51 51 0
1966 35 35 0
1965 43 43 0
1964 45 45 0
1963 35 35 0
1962 42 42 0
1961 38 38 0
1960 37 37 0
1959 28 28 0
1958 32 32 0
1957 26 26 0
1956 15 15 0
1955 18 18 0
1954 16 16 0
1953 12 12 0
1952 21 21 0
1951 17 17 0
1950 10 10 0
1949 15 15 0
1948 11 11 0
1947 11 11 0
1946 7 7 0
1945 5 5 0
1943 8 8 0
1942 7 7 0
1941 9 9 0
1940 13 13 0
1938 6 6 0
1936 6 6 0

Top States for Damien (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 153
16%
TX 108
11%
FL 55
6%
NY 52
5%
OH 41
4%
IL 40
4%
PA 31
3%
AZ 30
3%
MI 29
3%
WA 27
3%
NC 27
3%
NJ 23
2%
CO 22
2%
VA 21
2%
KY 20
2%
IN 19
2%
GA 19
2%
MO 18
2%
NV 16
2%
WI 16
2%
MD 15
2%
TN 15
2%
AR 15
2%
OR 14
1%
UT 13
1%
OK 13
1%
NM 12
1%
AL 10
1%
CT 10
1%
MA 10
1%
SC 10
1%
IA 9
1%
MN 8
1%
KS 7
1%
MS 7
1%
NE 7
1%
ID 6
1%
DE 6
1%
WV 6
1%
LA 5
1%
RI 5
1%