Demetrius Boy

Popularity: #774 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: dih-MEE-tree-us //dɪˈmiː.tri.əs//

Origin: Greek; Latin

Meaning: Greek: 'follower of Demeter'; Latin: 'of the earth'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Demetrius has its roots in ancient Greek, derived from the name Δημήτριος (Dēmētrios), which means 'follower of Demeter.' Demeter, the Greek goddess of agriculture and fertility, was a significant figure in ancient Greek religion, symbolizing the earth's bounty and the cycle of life. The name entered Latin as Demetrius, maintaining its association with the goddess, and subsequently made its way into English through the influence of the Latin-speaking Christian Church and the translation of biblical texts.

Demetrius appears in several historical contexts, most notably in the New Testament, where it is mentioned in the Epistle of John, specifically in the 3rd century CE. The name was also borne by various figures in classical antiquity, including Demetrius of Phalerum, a prominent philosopher and statesman in Athens during the 4th century BCE.

The name gained further prominence in the Hellenistic period, particularly through the Seleucid kings, who often bore the name, thereby linking it to royal lineage and authority. Culturally, Demetrius has been associated with strength and leadership, reflecting the qualities of the deities and historical figures it represents.

The name has been used in various literary works, including Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream," where Demetrius is portrayed as a central character, showcasing themes of love and conflict. The diminutive form, Demetri, has also been used in various cultures, further extending the name's reach and resonance throughout history.

Overall, Demetrius embodies a rich tapestry of linguistic, historical, and cultural significance, reflecting its enduring legacy.

Famous people named Demetrius

In this section, you will find notable people named Demetrius. 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 Demetrius who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Demetrius 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.

Demetrius of Phalerum was a philosopher and statesman best known for his work in the Peripatetic school and his role in the Athenian government.

Demetrius III Eucerus was a king of the Seleucid Empire best known for his attempts to restore the empire's power during his reign.

Demetrius I of Bactria was a Greco-Bactrian king best known for his military campaigns and the expansion of his kingdom.

Demetrius Shipp Jr. is an actor best known for his role in All Eyez on Me, portraying Tupac Shakur.

Fictional characters named Demetrius

The following list of fictional characters named Demetrius 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.

Demetrius is a fictional character from William Shakespeare's play A Midsummer Night's Dream. He is one of the central characters involved in a complex love quadrangle, initially in love with Hermia but later enchanted to love Helena.

Sibling suggestions

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

DariusMarcusTobiasLuciusCyrusJulius

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Demetrius. 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.

DimitriMaximusCassiusTiberiusOctaviusAtticusSebastianJulius

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Demetrius was first seen in the United States in 1912.

Demetrius has ranked as high as #511 nationally, which occurred in 1991, and has been most popular in Illinois, Georgia, Florida, Ohio, and California.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Demetrius 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 Demetrius 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 Demetrius.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 164 164 0
2024 213 213 0
2023 261 261 0
2022 229 229 0
2021 286 286 0
2020 266 266 0
2019 283 283 0
2018 346 346 0
2017 325 325 0
2016 333 333 0
2015 374 374 0
2014 362 362 0
2013 425 425 0
2012 396 396 0
2011 432 432 0
2010 501 501 0
2009 484 484 0
2008 523 523 0
2007 541 541 0
2006 628 628 0
2005 496 496 0
2004 599 593 6
2003 554 554 0
2002 584 584 0
2001 682 673 9
2000 686 679 7
1999 660 650 10
1998 678 670 8
1997 689 679 10
1996 769 759 10
1995 868 855 13
1994 913 894 19
1993 961 942 19
1992 1,046 1,022 24
1991 1,079 1,052 27
1990 889 867 22
1989 924 885 39
1988 832 789 43
1987 774 746 28
1986 814 764 50
1985 697 656 41
1984 656 621 35
1983 735 689 46
1982 672 627 45
1981 774 716 58
1980 753 694 59
1979 802 735 67
1978 723 659 64
1977 740 676 64
1976 736 656 80
1975 718 636 82
1974 754 680 74
1973 725 653 72
1972 666 597 69
1971 587 542 45
1970 499 466 33
1969 493 448 45
1968 436 397 39
1967 430 385 45
1966 292 264 28
1965 331 289 42
1964 254 212 42
1963 219 188 31
1962 238 189 49
1961 125 101 24
1960 97 79 18
1959 90 75 15
1958 81 71 10
1957 95 79 16
1956 80 65 15
1955 84 71 13
1954 80 69 11
1953 31 31 0
1952 13 13 0
1951 11 11 0
1950 22 22 0
1949 13 13 0
1948 16 16 0
1947 17 17 0
1946 17 11 6
1945 10 10 0
1944 7 7 0
1941 6 6 0
1935 7 7 0
1931 5 5 0
1930 7 7 0
1927 5 5 0
1926 6 6 0
1925 7 7 0
1924 8 8 0
1922 5 5 0
1921 11 11 0
1919 8 8 0
1918 7 7 0
1916 5 5 0
1915 10 10 0
1912 6 6 0

Top States for Demetrius (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
TX 18
11%
CA 17
11%
GA 14
9%
AL 13
8%
FL 12
8%
CO 11
7%
MI 10
6%
OH 9
6%
IN 7
4%
SC 7
4%
IL 6
4%
OK 6
4%
PA 6
4%
NC 6
4%
NY 6
4%
KY 5
3%
NV 5
3%