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Boy name · Greek

Damien

Name meaning, origin and popularity

: to tame, subdue

Damien 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
1880s1900s1920s1940s1960s1980s2000s2020s
Babies per million US boys, by decade (the 2020s so far, to 2025). Highest in the 2000s, at 928 per million.
Babies named Damien per million US boys, by decade; highest in the 2000s
1880s0 per million
1890s0 per million
1900s0 per million
1910s0 per million
1920s0 per million
1930s1 per million
1940s6 per million
1950s10 per million
1960s26 per million
1970s389 per million
1980s442 per million
1990s466 per million
2000s928 per million
2010s812 per million
2020s628 per million
US rank by year
Year2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
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.

  • AnselGod helmet (Germanic, boy)
  • EthanFirm, enduring (Hebrew, boy)
  • HenryHome ruler (Germanic, boy)
  • KnoxRound hill (Old English, boy)
  • LanceLand (Germanic, boy)
  • LaneA narrow path (English, unisex)
  • MarkOf Mars (Latin, boy)
  • RayCounsel protector (Germanic, boy)

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.