Damon first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Damon has been for the last 50 years (from 1975 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Damon

Of Greek origin, meaning "to subdue" or "to tame".

Popularity of Damon by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Damon is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 100% of people named Damon being male.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 686 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Damon.

YearMale CountFemale Count
20246860
20237420
20227420
20217270
20206900
20196490
20187180
20177080
20166990
20157170
20147640
20137940
20127220
20116820
20106670
20095210
20085850
20076740
20067820
20051,0070
20049926
20031,0220
20021,0270
20011,0380
20001,0430
19991,0200
19981,0520
19979868
19961,0010
19959570
19949340
19931,0006
19921,0058
19918880
19907880
19896420
19885840
19875336
19865610
19855940
19845950
198360112
19826389
19816847
19808978
19791,44613
19781,98118
19772,35629
19762,45525
19752,27921

The history of the first name Damon

The name Damon has its origins in ancient Greek culture and language. It is derived from the Greek word "damas" which means "to tame" or "subdue." The name is believed to have been used as early as the 5th century BC in ancient Greece.

In Greek mythology, Damon was a figure known for his unwavering loyalty and friendship. He was the close friend of Pythias, and their legendary bond became a symbol of true friendship. The story of Damon and Pythias, in which Damon offers to be executed in place of his friend, exemplifies the virtues associated with the name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Damon can be found in the works of the ancient Greek philosopher and playwright, Plato. In his dialogues, Plato mentions a character named Damon who was a renowned music theorist and philosopher.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Damon. In the 4th century BC, Damon of Athens was a renowned Pythagorean philosopher and mathematician. Another Damon, who lived in the 3rd century BC, was a Greek historian and logographer from Cyrene.

In more recent times, the name Damon has been carried by famous individuals such as Damon Runyon (1880-1946), an American writer and humorist known for his short stories and the Damon Runyon Theater. Damon Albarn (born 1968) is a British musician and singer-songwriter, best known as the co-founder of the virtual band Gorillaz.

Damon Wayans (born 1960) is an American actor, comedian, and writer, famous for his work on the sketch comedy show "In Living Color" and the sitcom "My Wife and Kids." Damon Hill (born 1960) is a British former racing driver and the 1996 Formula One World Champion.

Damon Lindelof (born 1973) is an American writer and producer, best known for his work on the television series "Lost" and "The Leftovers." These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals who have carried the name Damon throughout history, a name that has endured for over two millennia.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Damon was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Damon, please contact us.

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