Damien is a name of Latin origin, derived from the Roman family name Damianus. This name was used by several early Christian saints and martyrs, which contributed to its popularity over time.
The meaning of Damien is "to tame or subdue." It comes from the Latin word 'domare,' which means 'to subdue.' Some sources also suggest that Damien could mean 'gentle' or 'quiet.'
The name Damien has been used since ancient times but became more popular during the Middle Ages, thanks to several saints who bore this name. One of the most famous is Saint Damien of Molokai, a 19th-century priest known for his work with lepers in Hawaii.
Throughout history, Damien has been a versatile name, appearing in various forms across different cultures and languages. In French, it's spelled 'Damien,' while in Spanish, it becomes 'Damían.' The Italian version is 'Damiano,' and in German, it's 'Damin.'
Today, Damien remains a popular choice for parents around the world. It has been consistently ranked among the top 1000 baby names in several countries, including France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada.
In literature and arts, Damien has been used as a character name numerous times. Some notable examples include "Damien" by the French author Hervé Bazin, and "The Omen" film series featuring the fictional character Damien Thorn.
Despite its popularity, Damien is not associated with any specific traits or characteristics beyond its meaning of 'to tame or subdue.' Each person named Damien brings their unique personality to this classic name.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Damien has seen a varied trend of popularity over the years in the United States. The earliest recorded year is 1970 with 5 births, which then fluctuated until reaching a peak of 22 births in 1979. This high point was not sustained, and the number of annual births with the name Damien decreased steadily throughout the 1980s, reaching as low as 5 births in both 1986 and 1996.
However, from 1999 onwards, there seems to be a slight resurgence in the popularity of the name Damien. There were consistently between 5 to 11 births per year between 1999 and 2004, with another peak of 11 births in 2004. This trend continued into the 2000s, albeit at a lower level, with an average of around 6 births per year from 2006 to 2008, followed by a dip to 5 births in 2013.
In total, there have been 261 births with the name Damien recorded in the United States between 1970 and 2013. While it is difficult to draw definitive conclusions about the overall popularity of the name Damien based on these statistics alone, they do suggest that it has experienced periods of both high and low usage among parents throughout this timeframe.