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Damaris

♀ Girl

Pronounced DAM-ah-ris /ˈdæm.ə.rɪs/Low

Meaning: Gentle, calf, tame oneLow

In 30 seconds: Damaris is a rare New Testament Greek name meaning gentle or calf. She appears in the Acts of the Apostles as a woman converted by the Apostle Paul in Athens — one of the few women mentioned by name among Paul's early converts.
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Origin LowGreek, Hebrew
MeaningGentle, calf, tame one
U.S. rank (2024)#1435 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births154 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2006
Total births (all-time)≈ 12,581

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200619162024

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

History & Origin

Damaris appears in the Greek New Testament as the name of a woman converted by the Apostle Paul in Athens (Acts 17:34). The name's meaning relates to the Greek word for calf or gentleness. It has been used sporadically in Christian communities since antiquity.

Damaris was used by Puritan colonists in New England in the 17th century as a biblical feminine name. It is rare today but appeals to parents who want a distinctly scriptural name that most people have not heard before.

Did you know? Damaris of Athens appears in Acts 17:34 as one of only two named converts when Paul preached at the Areopagus in Athens. Her inclusion by name among primarily male converts has led scholars to speculate she may have been a woman of some social prominence.
Overall data confidence 90%
Behind the Name: Damaris

Variations

DameriesDamarizDamarys

Nicknames

DamiMari

Famous Bearers

  • ★Damaris (biblical)
    Athenian woman converted by the Apostle Paul after his Areopagus sermon, mentioned in Acts 17:34

If you like Damaris…

Amariah— Three-syllable biblical name of same rarity
Tamara— Three-syllable name with similar -maris sound
Emara— Similar -mara ending three-syllable name
Maris— Shares the -maris element

Frequently Asked

What does Damaris mean?

Damaris means gentle or calf in Greek, from the New Testament name of a woman converted by Paul in Athens.

Who was Damaris in the Bible?

Damaris of Athens appears in Acts 17:34 as one of the named converts when the Apostle Paul preached at the Areopagus.

How do you pronounce Damaris?

Damaris is pronounced DAM-ah-ris with three syllables.

What are nicknames for Damaris?

Nicknames for Damaris include Dami and Mari.