Where Does The Name Damian Or Damien Come From?

Both these spellings became fairly popular in the second half of the 20th century. Like the related name Damon, Damian has its roots in ancient Greek. Two early Christian brothers, Damian and Cosmas, were martyred in Cilicia in the 4th century, which gave the name some religious connotations.

The name Damon (probably the same name originally) comes from the Greek word daman (stress on the second syllable) meaning "to tame" or sometimes "to kill." It appears in classical mythology: Damon and Pythias were friends. When Pythias was condemned to death, Damon took his place in prison while Pythias went to arrange his affairs. The king didn't expect Pythias to return: when he did, the ruler was so impressed by their loyalty that he pardoned them both.

In recent times, the name Damien has tended to be associated with the film series "The Omen" where it is the name given to the Antichrist. Curiously enough it is also the name of one of the priests in "The Exorcist."