I adore the name Damien for a boy, but you know what I'm going to ask.....

[ChineapplePunk]

Is the devil-child association just too strong? Is it insurmountable? :)

Devils child and Only Fools and Horses, I'm afaid. And if he ever misbehaves it'll raise comments.

I love Damien. Someone's got to start the revival, might as well be you.

I agree it is actually a nice sounding name, should've said that, but my mind immediately jumped to the devil's child stuff above.

It's a nice name but yep, Devil's own, I'm afraid.

Yes, I think devil too.

But does that really matter any more? Being a little devil isn't that bad an association.

I've managed to persuade DH on our girl name choice, but he's just not having it with Damien. The expression "no way!" is often heard. I just want him to overcome the anti-christ connection and see the name for what it really is. However, I know how difficult that must be. :) Shame, it's such a lovely and cute little irish name....

I think devil's child too I'm afraid. Not sure how strong the association is, it might not bother me if I knew a RL Damien but I only know the name from that and Drop the Dead Donkey.

Damien = devilish

Damon = delightful (unless you hate Blur, I suppose!)

or Liz Hurley..dressing that poor boy in wanky blazers and White socks...

The one I know is the exact opposite of the film character, the sunniest and nicest kid you could ever hope to meet.

I think it's more acceptable in Ireland thanks to Father Damien, the missionary to the lepers. I also consider it quite an 'Irish' name just because it has always been semi-popular in Ireland.

Damien Hirst

"I just want him to overcome the anti-christ connection"

LOL!! Brilliant sentence.

You should have seen the "laughs" I got when I was discussing the name Enola on a previous thread.:) Some people were incensed by the fact that I had the audacity to say that names can have degrees of negative connotations, and that, as far as I was concerned, Enola wasn't that bad. IMO, it's negativity was more indirect, than say names like Adolph or Myra, which are shunned for patently obvious and understandable reasons. However, I completely understand, considering the history of the Enola Gay mission, why the name could conjure up negative images for some people. Seems you can't win with some people.

Only ever taught one Damien, and let's just say he did nothing to change my view of the name.

I only know one Damien. He's a complete oxygen thief, even the devil wouldn't claim him.
How about Damon...much nicer in my opinion.

Unless you're a HUGE Omen fan I'd avoid it!

Might find it hard to get a babysitter...........!

"Damien this is just for you.....!"

15 years on and that moment still chills me. I never finished watching the film!

When DS1 was 8 his headmaster described him as "just like Damien from that film".

I've always tried really hard to take it as a compliment (we took him out of that school a few weeks later) and it is a nice name!

Isn't Liz Hurleys son called Damien?

Ilove it but then I love Lilith and thats a demonic name as well.

You will get the jokes so it all depends on how that would bother you.

I know a few Damiens, am in NI. I think its a lovely name.

Is it not Damian with the "a" in the film? The only reason I think this is because when my aunt got my cousin Damian christened the priest mentioned it - it was a pleasant moment . Oh I don't like Damon at all, its a surname to me, or Damon and Debbie from Brookside but I'm really old

I like Damon too, but the Damon and Debbie connection also resonates with me. Funny, you'd think the devil connection would bother me more. :)

I love Damien and it's still popular in Ireland. Go for it if you like it!

There's a little Damien in Rec at our school. He is one naughty little kid!! There's something to do with that name - I swear it. Don't do it!

Also I can only seem to hear it in my head with a Scouse accent.

i love it. i like lilith too like the poster above. u wnt have to worry abt other children with the same name in his class

There's a 5yo Myra at school with my DD1, I've never heard anyone mention the to me blindingly obvious connection.