Damien Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Damien originates from the Greek name Damianos, meaning 'to tame' or 'to subdue'. It evolved through Latin and French forms before becoming popular in modern use. The name is associated with strength and sophistication, while having no biblical relevance. Its historical roots are tied to the veneration of Saint Damian, contributing to its enduring appeal.
The name Damien is most popular in Hawaii, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Damien has been stalled for male in MidWest, falling for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Damien' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 4053rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1634th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 359th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 296th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 215th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 275th out of 23106 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 6451st out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 10575th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 17274th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 30306th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Damien' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Damien"
Pronunciation
/ˈdeɪ.mi.ən/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Damien is derived from the Greek name 'Damianos', which is believed to be related to the Greek word 'damao', meaning 'to tame' or 'to subdue'.
Meaning
to tame, subdue
Language Evolution
Damianos (Greek), Damianus (Latin), Damien (French)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the Middle Ages, particularly due to the veneration of Saint Damian, a Christian martyr.
Variants & Derivatives
Damian, Damiano, Damián, Damon
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Damien is often perceived as a strong and sophisticated name, with a somewhat artistic or bohemian connotation.
Famous People
Damien Hirst (British artist), Damien Rice (Irish singer-songwriter), Damien Chazelle (American filmmaker)
Explore More Damien Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Damien"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Damien"
"Damien" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 4053rd of 6773 | 54 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1634th of 7552 | 437 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 359th of 10718 | 8,073 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 296th of 16616 | 12,928 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 215th of 24088 | 26,938 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 275th of 23106 | 15,377 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 6451st of 19264 | 113 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 10575th of 27321 | 86 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 17274th of 35406 | 57 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 30306th of 30306 | 5 |
Regional Popularity of "Damien" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
49.30% 1198th/2430 |
- |
31.28% 868th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
12.56% 369th/2937 |
8.10% 282nd/3483 |
10.74% 378th/3518 |
8.28% 335th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
7.54% 278th/3685 |
6.10% 273rd/4475 |
5.45% 283rd/5194 |
5.46% 345th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
4.85% 222nd/4582 |
3.45% 178th/5164 |
3.13% 229th/7313 |
2.81% 210th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
7.71% 307th/3984 |
5.88% 264th/4487 |
4.66% 318th/6822 |
3.60% 226th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Damien" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
94.65% 6922nd/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Damien"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Damien" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.