Damian comes from Latin Damianus derived from Ancient Greek Damianos meaning “to tame, subdue, control” and also “to kill”, deriving from the PIE root *demh₂- (to tame, domesticate). Damian is also a surname derived from the given name. According to Greek legend, Damon and Pythias were best friends in Syracuse in 4th century BC. Their friendship was tested when Pythias wasaccused of treason against Dionysius I of Syracuse, a tyrant. However, he was allowed to temporarily go free and settle his affairs as along as Damon was held hostage in his place, and would be executed if he didn’t return in time, which he did. Impressed with their loyalty to one another, Dionysious let them both go free.
Origin: Proto-Indo-European
Variants:
- Damianus (Latinized Ancient Greek)
- Damianos (Ancient Greek)
- Damien (French)
- Damion (English)
- Damon (English)
- Damyan (Bulgarian)
- Damjan (Slovene, Croatian, Serbian, Macedonian)
- Damiano (Italian)
- Demyan (Russian, Ukrainian)
- Damiaan (Dutch)
- Damián (Spanish)
Female forms:
- Damiana (Italian)
- Damjana (Slovene, Serbian, Macedonian)
- Damijana (Slovene)
