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Baby names

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Original poster

Damian? Is it associated with dark character?

60 replies

Tkoko · 11/06/2025 10:28

Do you think that the name Damian can have these connotations? Would you refuse calling your baby for this reason?

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BootballJoy · 11/06/2025 15:01

Tkoko · 11/06/2025 13:24

Yes i totally understand that… it’s just that i am Ukrainian and was trying to avoid Italian name to show the Slavic origin… it was somehow important for me. But i have no clear preference for the names and don’t feel them that much so was trying to narrow the choice to the ones that were Slavic or international easy to pronounce for Italians. Or those that would have a Slavic equivalent to it so I could call my son with But i guess i just don’t know how to chose. Very hard so far.

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Ah I see, so Slavic-inspired but easy for Italians to say and recognisable internationally? I guess then my vote of your choices so far would be Alexander or Alexei. Roman? Anton? Victor?

Maybe things will become clearer when the baby arrives!

Bowling4soup · 11/06/2025 13:41

For me it’s the baby in only fools and horses, del boys son

HarryVanderspeigle · 11/06/2025 13:39

The one i went to school with had a bad boy reputation, but was really kind to me when we worked at the same place. He did end up with the nickname Daymo.

Original poster
Tkoko · 11/06/2025 13:24

BootballJoy · 11/06/2025 13:05

I probably would think of the darker connotations but there are lots of Damians around.

I did see your other threads - one thing i noticed, feel free to ignore, is that you seem keen to avoid an Italian name in favour of something international- but in the UK at least, Italian names are very trendy at the moment. There are children especially preschool ages called Luca, Marco, Nico, Milo, Enzo, Matteo etc who do not have any connection to Italy at all. They will probably date, if that bothers you, but those names are quite international at the moment.

Yes i totally understand that… it’s just that i am Ukrainian and was trying to avoid Italian name to show the Slavic origin… it was somehow important for me. But i have no clear preference for the names and don’t feel them that much so was trying to narrow the choice to the ones that were Slavic or international easy to pronounce for Italians. Or those that would have a Slavic equivalent to it so I could call my son with But i guess i just don’t know how to chose. Very hard so far.

OP posts:
BootballJoy · 11/06/2025 13:05

I probably would think of the darker connotations but there are lots of Damians around.

I did see your other threads - one thing i noticed, feel free to ignore, is that you seem keen to avoid an Italian name in favour of something international- but in the UK at least, Italian names are very trendy at the moment. There are children especially preschool ages called Luca, Marco, Nico, Milo, Enzo, Matteo etc who do not have any connection to Italy at all. They will probably date, if that bothers you, but those names are quite international at the moment.

Clearinguptheclutter · 11/06/2025 12:51

Damian Lewis is marvellous but I agree it has connotations with dark characters

what about Fabian? Love that

TotallyFloored · 11/06/2025 12:51

My first thought is Del-Boy's kid to be honest...

SunsetCocktails · 11/06/2025 12:50

Am I the only one who immediately thinks of Only Fools and Horses?!

Mauro711 · 11/06/2025 12:40

Rvethetgergwtbteh · 11/06/2025 10:58

The only Damian I have known in my life was an out of control bad boy at school.
So, on the basis of the film and first-hand experience I would say no!

The only Damian I knew was a goth who scared the bejeezus out of us little girls when I was a kid. Wouldn’t pick it either.

TheBig50 · 11/06/2025 12:39

Tkoko · 11/06/2025 12:32

Why would you post it everywhere? Is it not ok to ask multiple opinions?

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There's always one.

Tortielady · 11/06/2025 12:32

I'm of an age when I can remember The Omen, although I grew up with the tropes more than the actual film as I was only 12 when it was released. I like Damien/Damian as a name; it's handsome on the page and sounds good. It has one enormous downside that puts all the Son-of-Satan stuff in the shade and that's what it'll be shortened to by the time your little one is in the upper reaches of primary school - Dammo! 😬

OP posts:
sparrowflewdown · 11/06/2025 12:08

The Omen for me but when you meet someone you forget about all the other connotations. I still wouldn't name my DC it though.

Snorlaxo · 11/06/2025 12:04

I think The Omen, Lewis then Hurley.

People in the Uk haven’t stopped using Rose (West), Madeline (McCann), Annabelle (horror film) , Fred (West), Freddie (Kruger) etc.

I’m not even sure how the film is perceived these days- if I asked my teen son who likes a horror film then I’m not sure he’d mention The Omen.

TheignT · 11/06/2025 11:56

Father Damian is my first thought. A good man who became a saint.

IsadoraQuagmire · 11/06/2025 11:54

My first thought is Damien from "Mean Girls"

ChungkingDepressed · 11/06/2025 11:37

kublacant · 11/06/2025 10:32

it was the name of the son of the Devil in the film series The Omen. Whether the younger generation has that connotation is very unlikely though!

The young people I know definitely have that association. A new Omen film came out only recently.

TheBig50 · 11/06/2025 11:34

I do fancy Damian Lewis though.

TheBig50 · 11/06/2025 11:33

My first thought is Omen,
my second is Only Fools and Horses 🤣

I'm 50 though, probably a different generation from you.

PosiePetal · 11/06/2025 11:32

I have a friend named Damien so the child in The Omen isn't the first thing that springs to mind when I hear that name. I like the name very much. Liz Hurleys son is Damian.

MILLYmo0se · 11/06/2025 11:30

I wouldn't use it, just because any bit of acting up or bad behaviour (even if normal for their age) will have someone saying 'oh living up to his name I see' even if they don't say it directly to you

MrsEmmelinePankhurst · 11/06/2025 11:28

trainerapp · 11/06/2025 11:26

I agree. More likely they might put it with Damian Hurley. To be fair though, he’s pretty creepy too.

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He really is !! Nominative determinism or what.

MrsEmmelinePankhurst · 11/06/2025 11:28

I’d immediately think of The Omen (I’m 53), swiftly followed by the Damien I went out with in my 20s who was an utter wanker 🤣

Damiano is brilliant though, I love it. Is Adrian/Adriano a “current” name in Italy? I know several Adrians in England but they’re all over 50. Adriano is also v cool!

I’d go for the Italian versions personally, especially if you live in Italy. My experience of Italian life was that Italians refused to pronounce foreign names in anything other than an Italian accent anyway 🤣 So - Damian would still be pronounced like Damiano but just without the final -o sound…

trainerapp · 11/06/2025 11:26

kublacant · 11/06/2025 10:32

it was the name of the son of the Devil in the film series The Omen. Whether the younger generation has that connotation is very unlikely though!

I agree. More likely they might put it with Damian Hurley. To be fair though, he’s pretty creepy too.

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