Demaine
A masculine name meaning "one who rules the people".
Name Census estimates that about 6 living Americans carry the first name Demaine. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Demaine today is around 46 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Demaine births was 1977 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Demaine. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Demaine. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
6
~ 1 in 57,125,723 Americans
Peak year
1977
6 babies that year
Average age
46
years old
1977 SSA rank
#5,293
Tracked since 1977
Popularity
Demaine: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Demaine by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Demaine during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Demaine
The name Demaine has its roots in the French language and culture, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "demaine," which referred to a property or estate that was under the direct control of a lord or sovereign. This term itself originated from the Latin word "dominicum," meaning "belonging to the lord."
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Demaine can be found in the 13th-century French epic poem "Le Roman de la Rose," where it appears as a character's name. This literary work is considered a masterpiece of medieval French literature and provides a glimpse into the cultural significance of the name during that time.
In the 14th century, there are records of a French nobleman named Demaine de Montfort, who played a role in the Hundred Years' War between England and France. His name suggests that he may have been the lord or owner of an estate bearing the name "Demaine."
During the Renaissance period, the name Demaine gained further prominence with the birth of the French philosopher and mathematician, René Demaine (1596-1650). His contributions to the fields of mathematics and philosophy garnered him widespread recognition and cemented the name's place in intellectual circles of the time.
Another notable figure bearing the name Demaine was the 18th-century French architect, Jacques-François Demaine (1732-1807). He was renowned for his neoclassical designs and left a lasting impact on the architectural landscape of Paris and other French cities.
In the 19th century, the name Demaine appeared in the literary world with the birth of the French novelist and playwright, Émile Demaine (1823-1892). His works explored themes of love, societal norms, and the human condition, earning him critical acclaim during his lifetime.
While the name Demaine has French origins, its usage has spread to other parts of the world, particularly through immigration and cultural exchange. However, its rich historical roots and connections to noteworthy figures in various fields make it a name with a distinctive cultural heritage and significance.
People
Demaine + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Demaine as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Demaine: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Demaine?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 6 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Demaine going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 57,125,723 US residents.
Is Demaine a common name?
We classify Demaine as "Very Rare". It ranks above 22.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 6 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Demaine most popular?
The single biggest year for Demaine was 1977, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Demaine is about 46 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Demaine in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Demaine a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Demaine in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Demaine still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Demaine in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Demaine can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Demaine?
See how many Americans are named Demaine on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.