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Damien

♂ Boy

Pronounced DAY-mee-un /ˈdeɪ.mi.ən/High

Meaning: From the Greek Damianos, derived from 'damazo' (to tame, subdue, or master), meaning 'one who tames' or 'the subduer'. Also the French form of Damian.High

In 30 seconds: Damien is the French form of Damian, a Greek-rooted name meaning 'to tame'. Associated with a patron saint of physicians and the most famous horror film antagonist of the 1970s, it is a name of intense character.
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Origin HighGreek, Latin
MeaningFrom the Greek Damianos, derived from 'damazo' (to tame, subdue, or master), meaning 'one who tames' or 'the subduer'. Also the French form of Damian.
U.S. rank (2025)#352 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births935 boys (0.05% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2007
Total births (all-time)≈ 64,742

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200719362025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Damien derives from the Greek Damianos, from damazo (to tame or subdue). Saint Damian (with his twin Cosmas) was an early Christian martyr of the third or fourth century; both were physicians who treated patients without accepting payment. They became patron saints of physicians and pharmacists. The French spelling Damien became standard in French-speaking countries.

Damien gained complex cultural associations in the twentieth century. On the saintly side, Father Damien De Veuster (1840–1889), a Belgian missionary who devoted his life to caring for lepers in Hawaii, was beatified and canonized as a model of charity. On the more ominous side, the film The Omen (1976) featured a child named Damien as the Antichrist. Despite the horror association, Damien has remained popular, ranking in the US top 100 boys' names in the 2000s and 2010s.

Did you know? Cosmas and Damian were twin brothers and early Christian saints known as the 'silverless ones' — they practiced medicine without charging fees, and their feast day on September 26 was once one of the most celebrated in the medieval church, making Damian a name synonymous with healing.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name: Damien — Greek etymology and saint's biographySocial Security Administration Name Data — US popularity trend for Damien

Variations

DamianDamianosDamon

Nicknames

DamiDamo

Famous Bearers

  • ★Father Damien (Jozef De Veuster) (1840–1889)
    Belgian Catholic priest and missionary, canonized 2009, who cared for lepers in Moloka'i, Hawaii.

If you like Damien…

Dorian— three-syllable Greek-origin name with the same slightly edgy, literary-dark character
Julian— three-syllable Latin classic with the same sophisticated European feel
Bastian— three-syllable name with Germanic-Latin roots and a similarly strong, distinctive character

Frequently Asked

What does the name Damien mean?

Damien means 'to tame' or 'the subduer', from Greek damazo — one who masters or subdues.

How do you pronounce Damien?

Damien is pronounced DAY-mee-un (/ˈdeɪ.mi.ən/), three syllables with stress on the first.

Is Damien a boy or girl name?

Damien is a boy's name. Damiana is a rare feminine equivalent.

How popular is Damien?

Damien reached the US top 100 boys' names in the 2000s and remains in the top 150, a stylish choice despite its horror film association.