Damon Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: DAY-muhn //ˈdeɪ.mən//
Origin: Greek; Hebrew
Meaning: Greek: to tame; Hebrew: a form of the name 'Damon' meaning 'to be faithful'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Damon has its roots in the Ancient Greek name Δάμων (Damon), which is derived from the verb δαμάω (damao), meaning "to tame" or "to subdue." This etymology suggests a connotation of strength and control, which may have contributed to the name's appeal in various cultures. The name entered the Latin language as Damon, which was subsequently adopted into Old French before making its way into English during the Middle Ages.
Historically, the name Damon is most famously associated with the story of Damon and Pythias, two characters from a tale attributed to the philosopher Plato in the 4th century BCE. This narrative exemplifies themes of loyalty and friendship, as Damon is portrayed as a devoted friend who is willing to sacrifice himself for Pythias.
The story has been retold in various forms throughout history, reinforcing the name's association with steadfastness and moral integrity. Additionally, the name appears in classical literature and has been borne by several notable figures in history, including Damon of Athens, a 5th-century BCE philosopher.
Culturally, the name Damon has resonated through various artistic and literary works, often symbolizing loyalty and bravery. In the realm of literature, it has been used in plays and novels, further embedding the name within the cultural consciousness.
The name has also been linked to the concept of friendship, particularly through the enduring tale of Damon and Pythias, which has been referenced in numerous contexts, including modern adaptations in theater and film. The diminutive form "Dame" has occasionally been used, though it is less common.
Overall, the name Damon carries a rich historical and cultural significance that has allowed it to endure through the centuries.
Famous people named Damon
In this section, you will find notable people named Damon. 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 Damon who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Damon 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.
Damon Wayans is a comedian and actor best known for In Living Color, Major Payne, and The Last Boy Scout.
Damon Albarn is a musician best known for being the lead vocalist of Blur and co-creator of Gorillaz.
Damon Lindelof is a screenwriter and producer best known for Lost, The Leftovers, and Watchmen.
Damon Dash is a businessman and film producer best known for co-founding Roc-A-Fella Records and producing films like Paid in Full.
Damon Stoudamire is a former professional basketball player best known for his time with the Toronto Raptors and winning the NBA Rookie of the Year award.
Fictional characters named Damon
The following list of fictional characters named Damon 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.
Damon Salvatore is a fictional character from the TV series The Vampire Diaries. He is a vampire known for his charm, complexity, and tumultuous relationship with his brother, Stefan.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Damon, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Damon. 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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Damon was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Damon has ranked as high as #209 nationally, which occurred in 1976, and has been most popular in California, New York, Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
In the past 5 years the name Damon has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Damon 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 Damon was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Damon (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 68 | |
| CA | 68 | |
| FL | 38 | |
| NY | 33 | |
| OH | 31 | |
| PA | 26 | |
| TN | 24 | |
| VA | 23 | |
| MI | 22 | |
| IN | 21 | |
| GA | 19 | |
| NC | 19 | |
| IL | 18 | |
| AZ | 16 | |
| MO | 15 |
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 Damon.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 686 |
| 2023 | 743 |
| 2022 | 743 |
| 2021 | 727 |
| 2020 | 692 |
| 2019 | 650 |
| 2018 | 718 |
| 2017 | 709 |
| 2016 | 700 |
| 2015 | 717 |
| 2014 | 764 |
| 2013 | 795 |
| 2012 | 722 |
| 2011 | 682 |
| 2010 | 668 |
| 2009 | 521 |
| 2008 | 585 |
| 2007 | 674 |
| 2006 | 782 |
| 2005 | 1,007 |
| 2004 | 992 |
| 2003 | 1,022 |
| 2002 | 1,027 |
| 2001 | 1,038 |
| 2000 | 1,044 |
| 1999 | 1,020 |
| 1998 | 1,052 |
| 1997 | 986 |
| 1996 | 1,001 |
| 1995 | 957 |
| 1994 | 935 |
| 1993 | 1,000 |
| 1992 | 1,005 |
| 1991 | 888 |
| 1990 | 788 |
| 1989 | 642 |
| 1988 | 584 |
| 1987 | 533 |
| 1986 | 561 |
| 1985 | 593 |
| 1984 | 596 |
| 1983 | 601 |
| 1982 | 638 |
| 1981 | 684 |
| 1980 | 897 |
| 1979 | 1,446 |
| 1978 | 1,981 |
| 1977 | 2,356 |
| 1976 | 2,453 |
| 1975 | 2,280 |
| 1974 | 2,361 |
| 1973 | 2,045 |
| 1972 | 1,926 |
| 1971 | 1,581 |
| 1970 | 1,622 |
| 1969 | 1,455 |
| 1968 | 1,330 |
| 1967 | 982 |
| 1966 | 865 |
| 1965 | 720 |
| 1964 | 700 |
| 1963 | 753 |
| 1962 | 487 |
| 1961 | 468 |
| 1960 | 361 |
| 1959 | 339 |
| 1958 | 228 |
| 1957 | 261 |
| 1956 | 235 |
| 1955 | 214 |
| 1954 | 213 |
| 1953 | 175 |
| 1952 | 133 |
| 1951 | 133 |
| 1950 | 120 |
| 1949 | 136 |
| 1948 | 104 |
| 1947 | 137 |
| 1946 | 103 |
| 1945 | 71 |
| 1944 | 76 |
| 1943 | 72 |
| 1942 | 96 |
| 1941 | 64 |
| 1940 | 64 |
| 1939 | 69 |
| 1938 | 64 |
| 1937 | 69 |
| 1936 | 70 |
| 1935 | 50 |
| 1934 | 65 |
| 1933 | 73 |
| 1932 | 65 |
| 1931 | 51 |
| 1930 | 55 |
| 1929 | 49 |
| 1928 | 68 |
| 1927 | 63 |
| 1926 | 71 |
| 1925 | 62 |
| 1924 | 60 |
| 1923 | 50 |
| 1922 | 70 |
| 1921 | 46 |
| 1920 | 62 |
| 1919 | 60 |
| 1918 | 46 |
| 1917 | 34 |
| 1916 | 61 |
| 1915 | 41 |
| 1914 | 29 |
| 1913 | 20 |
| 1912 | 31 |
| 1911 | 7 |
| 1910 | 7 |
| 1909 | 11 |
| 1907 | 13 |
| 1906 | 9 |
| 1905 | 18 |
| 1904 | 13 |
| 1903 | 6 |
| 1901 | 6 |
| 1900 | 11 |
| 1899 | 7 |
| 1898 | 7 |
| 1896 | 5 |
| 1895 | 8 |
| 1893 | 7 |
| 1892 | 11 |
| 1889 | 5 |
| 1880 | 6 |