Damon

Revision History

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5/29/2020, 9:30 PM Mike C update #108
12/8/2017, 12:41 PM Mike C update #97
7/27/2015, 11:23 PM Mike C update #90
2/12/2007, 1:03 AM Mike C earliest recorded revision

Gender Masculine
Usage Greek Mythology, English
Scripts Δάμων(Ancient Greek)
Pronounced Pron. /ˈdeɪ.mən/(English)

Meaning & History

Derived from Greek δαμάζω (damazo) meaning "to tame". According to Greek legend, Damon and Pythias were friends who lived on Syracuse in the 4th century BC. When Pythias was sentenced to death, he was allowed to temporarily go free on the condition that Damon take his place in prison. Pythias returned just before Damon was to be executed in his place, and the king was so impressed with their loyalty to one another that he pardoned Pythias. As an English given name, it has only been regularly used since the 20th century.