Damian? Is it associated with dark character?

[Tkoko]

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

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 think when confronted with an actual child- the connotations subside. No-one really thinks that about the names Rose or Fred or Peter. Or indeed Jack or Todd.

Calling a child Severus or Albus probably will have a more enduring cultural connotation IMO.

I would refuse yes. Some connotations are very short lived but I still think this connotation has legs. Kids might not know but their parents will and might say something to their kids if they fall out etc. There are plenty of similar nice names.

The Omen is my first thought when I hear the name. Followed by Liz Hurley's son.

If I knew a child called Damien, he'd be my first and strongest association with the name. And I'm not convinced Gen Z would mostly be aware of the films at all.

I wouldn't choose it for my own child - I don't much like the name and I often drive past where part of the Omen was filmed so am often reminded of it.

But I don't think there's anything wrong with the name and wouldn't think it a particularly strange choice. In fact, I'd much rather that than yet another Alfie, Harry, Jackson, Arlo or Milo (all of which are fine, but just a bit overused IMO).

Not all Damians are bad!

Saint Peter Damian was a reformer and a scholar, Dante thought very highly of him and he is still honoured in Italy

St Damian was a doctor who treated the poor for nothing. There are several Abbeys and churches dedicated to him and his brother Cosmo.

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!

Love this! I know a church named after St Damien and St Cosmos and had wondered why they chose those two men rather than just one.

For me, it's

Damian (Damien?) in The Omen

Fr Damien and the lepers (Belgian priest who contracted leprosy from working in a leper colony in Hawaii, canonised a couple of popes ago, continually banged on about as an example by nuns in my childhood

Liz Hurley's cheekbone-y model/actor/whatever son.

Though I also think it's a bit wet as names go. It's more 'photocopier salesman who wears short-sleeved nylon shirts and tie sets' than 'son of the devil'.

Well I am in Italy and the local version is Damiano…but I prefer one more international and more clear for Italians. Damian/Adrian and not Damiano Adriano.

I help run a Cub pack and the Damians that have been through have been a handful!

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

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…

He really is !! Nominative determinism or what.

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

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.

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

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

I do fancy Damian Lewis though.

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

My first thought is Damien from "Mean Girls"

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

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.

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.

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

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! 😬