Boy name · Greek
Damien
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: to tame, subdueDamien is a boy's name that comes from Greek and means "to tame, subdue". It is used in French and English.
- Meaning
- To tame, subdue
- Origin
- Greek
- Gender
- Boy
- Say it
- dah-MYAN (French)
Meaning and origin of Damien
As a boy's name, Damien comes from Greek and means "to tame, subdue". It is used in French and English.
In French, say dah-MYAN. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Damien on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Damien on 3 lists.
“Belgian priest who served the leprosy colony on Molokai”
From Priest names, saint names with meaning
“To tame, subdue; Greek. Say dah-MYAN”
From French boy names, french boy names that work in English
“To tame, subdue; Greek. Dark-edged but rooted in a gentle healer saint”
From Gothic names, gothic male names with real meanings
How popular is Damien?
- US rank in 2025
- #352
- 935 babies, 547 per million boys
- Best rank
- #161 in 1978
- Most babies: 2,265 in 2007
- Babies since 1936
- At least 64,757
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 0 per million |
| 1930s | 1 per million |
| 1940s | 6 per million |
| 1950s | 10 per million |
| 1960s | 26 per million |
| 1970s | 389 per million |
| 1980s | 442 per million |
| 1990s | 466 per million |
| 2000s | 928 per million |
| 2010s | 812 per million |
| 2020s | 628 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #278 | #266 | #264 | #282 | #277 | #280 | #305 | #330 | #343 | #352 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Damien
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- DamianTo tame, subdue (Greek, boy)
- DamiãoTo tame (Greek, boy)
- DamonTo tame (Greek, boy)
Names spelled like Damien
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- DanielGod is my judge (Hebrew, boy)
- DamhánLittle fawn (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- DavieBeloved one (Hebrew, boy)
Names with a similar meaning
- DamianosTo tame (Greek, boy)
- DemianaTo tame (Greek, girl)
Middle names for Damien
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Greek
- AlexanderDefender of men (Greek, boy)
- LucasMan from Lucania (Greek, boy)
- ChristianFollower of Christ (Greek, boy)
- LeonA lion (Greek, boy)
- HectorHolding fast (Greek, boy)
- TheoGift of God (Greek, boy)
- AlexisHelper, defender (Greek, boy)
- LucaMan from Lucania (Greek, boy)
- PeterRock, stone (Greek, boy)
- SebastianMan of sebaste, venerable (Greek, boy)
Damien: common questions
What does the name Damien mean?
Damien comes from Greek and means "to tame, subdue".
Is Damien a boy or girl name?
Damien is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Damien come from?
Damien comes from Greek and means "to tame, subdue". Today it is used in French and English.
How do you pronounce Damien?
In French, say dah-MYAN. Pronunciation can vary between languages and regions.
How popular is the name Damien?
Damien ranked #352 in the US in 2025, with 935 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Damien?
Forms of Damien with the same meaning and origin include Damian (English), Damião (Portuguese) and Damon (English).
What middle names go with Damien?
Middle names that flow well with Damien include Ansel, Ethan, Henry, Knox and Lance. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.

