What does Dimitri mean?
Dimitri honours Demeter, the Greek goddess of the harvest and earth.
What does Perseus mean?
Perseus is the Greek hero who slew Medusa; his name is often linked to “to destroy.”
Dimitri vs Perseus
Which is more popular?
Dimitri is more popular than Perseus today: about 195 US babies were given the name Dimitri in 2025, compared with 168 named Perseus.
| Dimitri | Perseus | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Follower of Demeter | Of debated meaning |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | dih-MEE-tree | PUR-see-us |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1917 | 1983 |
| Peak year | 1992 (401) | 2025 (168) |
| In 2025 | 195 | 168 |
| Trend | Steady | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Dimitri
Perseus
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Dimitri | Perseus |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 1,248 | 813 |
| 2010s | 2,111 | 561 |
| 2000s | 1,985 | 5 |
| 1990s | 2,506 | 0 |
| 1980s | 679 | 11 |
| 1970s | 457 | 0 |
| 1960s | 321 | 0 |
| 1950s | 147 | 0 |
| 1940s | 72 | 0 |
| 1930s | 38 | 0 |
| 1920s | 18 | 0 |
| 1910s | 12 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Dimitri or Perseus more popular?
Dimitri is more popular than Perseus today: about 195 US babies were given the name Dimitri in 2025, compared with 168 named Perseus.
What is the difference between Dimitri and Perseus?
Dimitri means Follower of Demeter (Greek origin), while Perseus means Of debated meaning (Greek origin).
Which name is older, Dimitri or Perseus?
In US records, Dimitri first appears in 1917 and Perseus in 1983, so Dimitri has the longer recorded history.