Declining since 2022.
Popularity of Damascus since 1967
Babies named Damascus per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1960s | 7 |
| 1970s | 18 |
| 1980s | 13 |
| 1990s | 15 |
| 2000s | 35 |
| 2010s | 10 |
| 2020s | 31 |
Meaning & origin
Damascus is a rare American place-name, first recorded as a given name in 1967. Its peak usage came in 1981, but it has never ranked near the top 1,000 names. The name has been on a falling trajectory since 2022, reflecting declining interest. With no top states showing particular preference, Damascus remains an unconventional choice, likely chosen for its historical and international resonance rather than popularity.
Damascus is a direct adoption of the name of the capital of Syria, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The city name itself is of pre-Indo-European origin, possibly from a word meaning 'well-watered.' While the city appears in biblical and historical records, its use as a personal name is a modern phenomenon, beginning in the United States around the late 1960s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Dame, Mac, D
Sibling names for Damascus
Names that share Damascus's style, for a brother or sister.
