Demetrius

BoyGreek, Latin· “follower of Demeter”

Meaning
follower of Demeter
Origin
Greek, Latin
Pronunciation
dih-MEE-tree-uhs
Syllables
4
US rank 2025
#1,229
US babies 2025
164
Best rank
#259 (1991)
Peak year
1991

Meaning and origin of Demetrius

Demetrius is a Greek and Latin name that means “follower of Demeter”.

Demetrius is the Latin form of the Greek Demetrios, meaning follower of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and harvest. It was borne by several kings of Macedon and other Hellenistic realms, and a silversmith named Demetrius appears in the Book of Acts. Saint Demetrius of Thessalonica, a martyr, is widely venerated in the Orthodox Church. The name has been used in the English-speaking world for centuries and is especially popular in the United States. It feels strong and classical, with Demi and Dee as nicknames.

Other spellings with the same sound: Dimitrius.

Popularity over time

03006009001.2k192019401960198020002020Peak 1991: 1,052
US babies named Demetrius per year, 1880 to 2025

Demetrius first appears in US Social Security records in 1912. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 70 different years, starting in 1954. Its best national rank was #259 in 1991, the same year it reached its highest count of 1,052 babies. In 2025, 164 babies were named Demetrius, and it ranked #1,229 nationally. That is 56% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.

Its national rank moved from #1,580 in 1950, #294 in 1980, #384 in 2000, #514 in 2010, and #1,229 in 2025. Of the 36,064 US boys named Demetrius since records began, 23% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 1980s come next, with 7,187 babies. Since 2010, 5,196 more have been named Demetrius.

Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Marquis, Desmond, Johnathon, Branden, and Ramon.

Where it is most popular (2025)

In 2025, Demetrius ranked highest in Mississippi, Michigan, and Georgia.

StateRank thereBabies
Mississippi#5505
Michigan#60913
Georgia#72213
South Carolina#7725
Pennsylvania#9378

Gender, sound and spelling

In the US it is used almost only for boys.

Demetrius is usually pronounced dih-MEE-tree-uhs, with four syllables. It has nine letters, starts with D and ends in “-us”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Dimitrius.

Middle names for Demetrius

A few middle names that flow with Demetrius: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.

Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
William Boy
WIHL-yuhm
“resolute protector” · Germanic
#9
James Boy
JAYMZ
“holder of the heel, supplanter” · English
#6
John Boy
JAHN
“Yahweh is gracious” · Hebrew
#23
Leo Boy
LEE-oh
“lion” · Latin
#19
Rowan Unisex
ROH-uhn
“little red one; rowan tree” · Irish
#59

Sibling names for Demetrius

Similar names

Linus Boy
LY-nus
“flax” · Greek
#1,913
Titus Boy
TY-tuhs
“uncertain; a Roman given name” · Latin
#358
Cornelius Boy
kor-NEEL-yus
“uncertain; possibly 'horn'” · Latin
#1,908
Marcus Boy
MAHR-kuhs
“probably dedicated to Mars” · Latin
#258
Darius Boy
duh-RY-uhs
“holding firm the good” · Persian
#788
Lazarus Boy
LAZ-uh-ruhs
“God has helped” · Hebrew
#1,143
Nicodemus Boy
nik-uh-DEE-mus
“victory of the people” · Greek
#2,826
Alexander Boy
a-lihg-ZAN-dur
“defender of men” · Greek
#30
Lucas Boy
LOO-kuhs
“man from Lucania” · Latin
#10
Luke Boy
LOOK
“man from Lucania” · Greek
#33
Sebastian Boy
suh-BAS-chuhn
“from Sebaste; venerable” · Latin
#16

Lists that include Demetrius

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Demetrius mean?

Demetrius is a Greek and Latin name that means “follower of Demeter”.

What is the origin of the name Demetrius?

Demetrius has Greek and Latin roots. Demetrius is the Latin form of the Greek Demetrios, meaning follower of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and harvest.

Is Demetrius a popular name?

Not especially. Demetrius ranked #1,229 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.

Is Demetrius a boy or girl name?

Demetrius is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.

How do you pronounce Demetrius?

Demetrius is usually pronounced dih-MEE-tree-uhs. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.

Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings