Find out how popular the first name Demetrius has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Demetrius by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Demetrius is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 97% of people named Demetrius being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 260 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Demetrius.

The history of the first name Demetrius

The name Demetrius has its origins in ancient Greek language and culture, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the 4th century BC. It is derived from the Greek name "Demetrios," which is believed to be a combination of the words "de" meaning "earth" and "meter" meaning "mother," signifying a connection to the Earth goddess Demeter.

In Greek mythology, Demeter was the goddess of agriculture, fertility, and the harvest, making the name Demetrius a symbolic representation of the earth's fruitfulness and abundance. This name was particularly popular among the ancient Greeks, who held great reverence for their deities and the natural world.

One of the earliest and most notable historical figures to bear the name Demetrius was Demetrius I Poliorcetes, a king of Macedon who lived from 336 BC to 283 BC. He was a skilled military leader and one of the successors of Alexander the Great. His name, "Poliorcetes," means "the besieger of cities," reflecting his prowess in siege warfare.

Another prominent figure named Demetrius was Demetrius the Chronographer, a Byzantine historian who lived in the 12th century AD. He is best known for his work "Chronicon Breve," which chronicled the history of the Byzantine Empire from the creation of the world to his own time.

In the realm of philosophy, Demetrius of Phalerum was a renowned Athenian orator, statesman, and philosopher who lived from 350 BC to 280 BC. He served as the ruler of Athens for a decade and was responsible for establishing the famous Library of Alexandria, one of the greatest repositories of ancient knowledge.

The name Demetrius also holds significance in Christian tradition. Saint Demetrius of Thessalonica, a Christian martyr who lived in the 3rd century AD, is venerated as a patron saint of agriculture and protector against evil spirits. His feast day is celebrated annually on October 26th in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

Demetrius the Athonite, a Byzantine monk and saint who lived in the 14th century, is also noteworthy. He was a prominent figure in the monastic community of Mount Athos, Greece, and is celebrated for his ascetic lifestyle and spiritual teachings.

Throughout history, the name Demetrius has been borne by numerous other notable individuals, including kings, scholars, artists, and religious figures, reflecting its enduring popularity and cultural significance across various civilizations and eras.

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 Demetrius was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Demetrius, 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!