How to say it
DA · mi · en
/ˈdeɪ.mi.ən/
Masculine
Damien
To tame, subdue
What it means
From the Greek Damianos, linked to damao, 'to tame' or 'to subdue.'
Damien comes from the Greek Damianos, tied to damao, 'to tame.' St. Damian, an early physician-saint, paired in legend with his twin Cosmas, made it a name of healing. The French spelling Damien took hold in English; the 1976 film The Omen, with its sinister child Damien, lent it a horror shadow that has since faded. Damian is the older spelling, Damon a cousin.
Popularity over time
peaked at #161 in 1978, currently #352 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Damien and Damian are the same name; Damien is the French-influenced form.
- Worth knowing
The Omen attached a devilish association in the 1970s, mostly faded now.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- St. Damian early physician-saint, healer alongside his twin Cosmas
- Damien Hirst British contemporary artist
Spelling variants
- Damian
- Damián
- Damon