He’s a classic, worn by Ancient Greeks and Christian saints, as well as musicians and athletes in the modern world.
Then there’s the whole spawn-of-Satan angle.
Thanks to Emma for suggesting our Name of the Day: Damian.
The earliest notable Damians included an Ancient Greek scientist and a physician. Saint Damian, a healer, was martyred under Diocletian in the 300s, along with his twin brother Cosmo. The Coptic Orthodox Church lists another Saint Damian dating from the 500s.
Saint Peter Damian served as a Cardinal in the eleventh century, and is considered a Doctor of the Church. Dante meets him in the seventh sphere of Heaven in the Divine Comedy.
A handful of other notable Damians includes:
- Bob Marley’s youngest son. Damian Marley is a Grammy-winning artist in his own right;
- Damian Green is a British politician who traded news broadcasting for Parliament in 1997;
- Dancer Damian Woetzel retired from the New York City ballet and now works in arts administration;
- Fictional Damian Grimaldi has been a character on soap opera As The World Turns since 1993;
- USC wide receiver Damian Williams is considered a future NFL superstar.
The name can be found in use from Poland to Ireland and Ecuador to Greece. The meaning comes from the Greek damao – to tame.
But ever since 1976 blockbuster The Omen hit the big screen, this name has an edge.
Damien is actually the French spelling. It isn’t clear why screenwriter David Seltzer picked the name, though perhaps the superficial similarities to the word “demon” influenced his choice. It’s a creepy flick, and the sinister small fry is downright scary.
Another horror classic from the 1970s also featured the name – the priest charged with saving the soul of Regan in 1973’s The Exorcist was Father Damien Karras.
A handful of pop culture references have cemented Damian’s reputation as bad news. Batman’s bad boy son is called Damian Wayne; a South Park episode had the son of Satan joining the boys’ class.
None of this has dulled the name’s appeal. In 1977, Damian stood at #210 and Damien at #246. The year after the movie came out, Damien leapt to #161.
It seems unlikely, but after all, The Exorcist boosted Regan, too.
Today Damian stands at #137 and Damien at #182. Both are rising, though the “a” spelling clearly has the edge. As parents move away from two-syllable choices for their sons, Damian fits with popular picks like Adrian, Julian and Sebastian.
So while the horror film connection might give some parents pause, perhaps Damian’s biggest shortcoming isn’t that your son might be a terror.
It’s that there will be too many of them.
Emma says
April 4, 2009 at 3:55 PMI should really learn to do some research before I say things- I’ve now found that Arthur has already been NOTD. Please disregard the above comment!
Emma says
April 4, 2009 at 3:50 PMI’ve been away for a while and my blog has been seriously neglected but I just wanted to assure anyone who was wondering that I am not not dead nor incapacitated! Just snowed under with College work. Anyhow, I thought I’d comment on my own NOTD suggestion- I’ve always liked the name Damien/Damian. I just think it’s classy. Although during a conversation with my mum the other day she mentioned that she thought Damien was the worst name to give to a child, so I suppose in lieu of that I should probably give up on it!
If it’s all right, I’d like to suggest one more for NOTD. I know it’s your husbands name so I would imagine you are already fairly knowledgable about it. In case you haven’t guessed, it’s Arthur :). Thanks very much!
chaneltara says
April 2, 2009 at 11:01 PMI think Damian is wonderful, and was both happy and sad when my cousin used Damien for her son, happy because it is so handsome, and sad because I couldn’t use it myself! I have a cousin named Damen, but I much prefer Damian. I don’t think of the Omen at all, and would not let that association stop me from using it.
appellationmountain says
April 2, 2009 at 8:44 PMIt’s nice to hear that Damian isn’t permanently tainted because of the movie association!
Though honestly, I’m with JNE. Growing up, I couldn’t even look at the house in our neighborhood with the half moon windows just like the Amityville Horror. I was convinced I’d see something moving. In broad daylight. As our white station wagon with the maroon vinyl seats trundled by at 25 mph.
Really, I’m a wimp.
Emmy Jo says
April 2, 2009 at 4:37 AMI love Damian! Those three-syllable boys’ names make me swoon.
I’m getting very tired of people saying it’s the name of Satan’s child. I’ve even heard comments like, “I have a student named Damian and he really lives up to his name,” or, “My nephew is named Damian and that kid is pure evil.”
So ridiculous! It’s like saying every girl named Matilda will be able to move chalk with her mind. Aargh!
Lola says
April 1, 2009 at 8:20 PMOh, I like Damian. He’s snazzy & handsome. But Cosmo’s near & dear to my heart and hasn’t left my lsts in thre years now. He goes up & down but remains on. So It’s Cosmo that grabs me, although Damian’s lovely. I think of St. Damian first & foremost, so it never smacks of evil until someone brings up “the Omen” (which was silly but not very scary at all). *sigh* and right there is why I’ll never use Damianmsel. Everyone and their third uncle thinks of “The Omen” and it’s just not something I want associated with a kid of mine.
So, Damian’s lovely, but not for me.
Claire says
April 1, 2009 at 6:05 PMI like Damien better than Damian. As one who tries not to watch horror movies, the connection to “The Omen” was lost on me. He seems like a decent enough guy. I chose him as a name for a character once so he at one point sounded good to me. It’s hard to picture him caucasian, though, so not really a choice I’d take for my own use.
JNE says
April 1, 2009 at 5:49 PMWhile I don’t disagree with Allison, I’m one of those people who, no matter what, flashes on evil when I hear the name. It’s not that I can’t move past that association, but it is my first thought. It’s not something I’d choose to use for my own son, though.
photoquilty says
April 1, 2009 at 5:40 PMI don’t really care for it – and that has nothing to do with the movie. I just don’t really like long names for boys. Two syllables are more my style. (It sounds so silly to say this, but ) my friend’s friend’s husband is Demion (not sure of the spelling as I don’t actually know the man), pronounced DEH-mee-en. I can’t say I like that any better. Next please 😉
Allison says
April 1, 2009 at 5:38 PMI think it’s high time Damian gets a better rep. Such a great name shouldn’t be saddled with an unfortunate association from one movie. No one would ever suggest Micheal or Jason were evil, even after those characters slashed their way thru dozens of movies. I was very pleased some years ago when Liz Hurley named her son Damian. Damian is timeless, stylish, and a little edgy… one of my very favorite boys’ names.