Demus
An uncommon masculine name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from the Greek word "demos" meaning "people".
Name Census estimates that about 0 living Americans carry the first name Demus. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Demus today is around 0 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Demus births was 1913 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Demus. 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 Demus. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
0
~ - Americans
Peak year
1913
5 babies that year
Average age
-
1913 SSA rank
#2,927
Tracked since 1913
Popularity
Demus: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Demus 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 Demus during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Demus
The name Demus traces its origins to ancient Greece, where it was derived from the Greek word "demos," meaning "people" or "community." This name carried significant cultural and historical significance in the classical era, representing the concept of democracy and the power of the people.
During the golden age of Athens in the 5th century BC, the name Demus was closely associated with the democratic ideals that shaped the city-state's unique form of government. Prominent figures such as Demus of Phyla, an Athenian statesman and orator in the 4th century BC, bore this name proudly, reflecting its connection to the principles of popular sovereignty and civic engagement.
As the influence of Greek civilization spread throughout the Mediterranean region, the name Demus found its way into other cultures and languages. In ancient Rome, for instance, the name took on the form "Demus" or "Demas," reflecting the linguistic adaptation that occurred as Greek names were adopted and assimilated into Latin.
One notable historical figure who carried this name was Demas, a companion of the Apostle Paul mentioned in the New Testament. In Colossians 4:14 and Philemon 1:24, Demas is referred to as a fellow worker of Paul, though later passages suggest that he eventually abandoned the apostle's mission.
During the Byzantine era, the name Demus continued to be used, particularly among the Greek-speaking populations of the Eastern Roman Empire. Records from this period mention individuals bearing this name, such as Demus the Deacon, a cleric who lived in the 8th century AD and served in the city of Constantinople.
As the centuries passed, the name Demus remained in use, albeit less commonly, in various parts of Europe and the Mediterranean region. Notable individuals who bore this name include Demus of Armagh, an Irish monk and scholar from the 9th century AD, and Demus Malyshkin, a Russian noble and courtier who lived during the reign of Tsar Alexis I in the 17th century.
Throughout its long history, the name Demus has carried a rich cultural heritage, reflecting its roots in the democratic traditions of ancient Greece and its association with the concepts of community and popular sovereignty. While its usage has waned in modern times, this name remains a testament to the enduring influence of classical Greek civilization and its profound impact on the development of Western thought and ideals.
People
Demus + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Demus 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
Demus: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Demus?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 0 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Demus 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 - US residents.
Is Demus a common name?
We classify Demus as "Very Rare". It ranks above 2.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Demus most popular?
The single biggest year for Demus was 1913, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Demus is about 0 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 Demus in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Demus a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Demus 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 Demus still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Demus 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 Demus 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 share the name Demus?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.