Damon first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Damon has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) 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 2023, there were 742 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Damon.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 742 0
2022 742 0
2021 727 0
2020 690 0
2019 649 0
2018 718 0
2017 708 0
2016 699 0
2015 717 0
2014 764 0
2013 794 0
2012 722 0
2011 682 0
2010 667 0
2009 521 0
2008 585 0
2007 674 0
2006 782 0
2005 1,007 0
2004 992 6
2003 1,022 0
2002 1,027 0
2001 1,038 0
2000 1,043 0
1999 1,020 0
1998 1,052 0
1997 986 8
1996 1,001 0
1995 957 0
1994 934 0
1993 1,000 6
1992 1,005 8
1991 888 0
1990 788 0
1989 642 0
1988 584 0
1987 533 6
1986 561 0
1985 594 0
1984 595 0
1983 601 12
1982 638 9
1981 684 7
1980 897 8
1979 1,446 13
1978 1,981 18
1977 2,356 29
1976 2,455 25
1975 2,279 21
1974 2,361 27

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.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Damon first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/damon-meaning-and-history/.

"Damon first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/damon-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Damon first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/damon-meaning-and-history/.

Search for a name

Search for a first or last name to learn more about its origin, meaning, and more.

Simple as that.