Declining since 2006, #1,436 for girls today.
Popularity of Damaris since 1916
Babies named Damaris per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 16 |
| 1920s | 63 |
| 1930s | 87 |
| 1940s | 124 |
| 1950s | 270 |
| 1960s | 633 |
| 1970s | 1,323 |
| 1980s | 1,496 |
| 1990s | 2,301 |
| 2000s | 3,705 |
| 2010s | 1,872 |
| 2020s | 844 |
Meaning & origin
Damaris is a New Testament name with a distinguished but obscure past. It was recorded in the United States as early as 1916, but it was never a common choice. Its highest rank came in 2006 at a peak rank of 1,436, with 1 in 10,715 girls receiving the name. Since then, the name has been falling in popularity. Today it remains a rare, elegant choice, found most often in Minnesota, Alabama, and Tennessee among U.S. states. Its exact meaning is unknown, which adds an air of mystery. Damaris offers a biblical connection without being widely used, appealing to parents who want a name that is both traditional and distinctive.
Damaris appears briefly in the New Testament (Acts 17:34) as an Athenian woman converted by Paul's preaching. The name's etymology is debated: it may derive from the Greek 'damalis' (heifer), or it could be a Hellenized form of a Semitic name related to the Hebrew 'dama' (to resemble) or 'damar' (to be beautiful). It was used in the early Christian era but became rare after antiquity. The name re-emerged in English-speaking countries in the 20th century, especially in the United States.
Where Damaris is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Damaris” around the world
Where Damaris lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Dama, Mari, Risa
Sibling names for Damaris
Names that share Damaris's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Damaris
Names whose popularity has moved with Damaris's over the last 50 years.
