Demetrius
/dɪˈmiːtriəs/noun
A masculine personal name of Greek origin meaning devoted to Demeter.
Did you know?Demeter was worshipped in the secret Eleusinian Mysteries, whose initiation rites promised sacred knowledge about death and the hope of renewal.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*méh₂tēr
“Mother; the ancient root behind the maternal element associated with Demeter and words such as mother and matrix.”
Archaic Greek
Greek
Dēmētēr
“Demeter, the goddess associated with grain, agriculture, fertility, and the seasonal cycle.”
Classical Greek
Greek
Dēmētrios
“Belonging or devoted to Demeter; a masculine personal name formed from the goddess’s name.”
Hellenistic Period
Greek
Dēmētrios
“A widely used Greek personal name, especially in regions where the cult of Demeter was influential.”
Ancient Rome
Latin
Demetrius
“The Latinized form of the Greek personal name.”
Late Antiquity
Greek and Latin
Demetrius
“A Christian-era name borne by saints and martyrs, including Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki.”
Modern English
English
Demetrius
“A masculine given name inherited from Greek through Latin and later European naming traditions.”