What does Damian mean?
Damian comes from the Greek for “to tame” or “subdue.”
What does Xander mean?
Xander is a short form of Alexander, “defender of the people.”
Damian vs Xander
Which is more popular?
Damian is more popular than Xander today: about 3,213 US babies were given the name Damian in 2025, compared with 1,335 named Xander.
| Damian | Xander | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | To tame, subdue | Defender of the people |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | DAY-mee-un | ZAN-der |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1912 | 1990 |
| Peak year | 2013 (3,976) | 2017 (2,414) |
| In 2025 | 3,213 | 1,335 |
| Trend | Steady | Rising |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Damian
Xander
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Damian | Xander |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 19,855 | 10,693 |
| 2010s | 35,284 | 19,317 |
| 2000s | 26,034 | 9,909 |
| 1990s | 12,688 | 362 |
| 1980s | 5,719 | 0 |
| 1970s | 7,282 | 0 |
| 1960s | 1,865 | 0 |
| 1950s | 700 | 0 |
| 1940s | 231 | 0 |
| 1930s | 126 | 0 |
| 1920s | 91 | 0 |
| 1910s | 45 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Damian or Xander more popular?
Damian is more popular than Xander today: about 3,213 US babies were given the name Damian in 2025, compared with 1,335 named Xander.
What is the difference between Damian and Xander?
Damian means To tame, subdue (Greek origin), while Xander means Defender of the people (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Damian or Xander?
In US records, Damian first appears in 1912 and Xander in 1990, so Damian has the longer recorded history.