# Is Damien a safe name for my son? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 26, 2004, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-damien-a-safe-name-for-my-son/256950 "2004-07-26T16:41:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-damien-a-safe-name-for-my-son/256950/81 "2004-07-28T16:01:10Z")
“The Omen” is the first thing I think of when I hear the name Damien without a context. But I’ve known a couple of Damiens, and when I was around them I never thought of spawn of Satan. In any case, I’m in my 50s, and hardly in your child’s potential demographic. Kids will, of course, grab on to any name. A bit of annoyance I had as a child came from one of my teacher’s reading The World Beneath the City, which was about the NYC infrastructure. There was a guy in the book called “Smelly Kelly.” A few people started calling me that, but it faded out in a couple months. Bottom line: I wouldn’t worry about it. If you are worried, call him Jason, or Michael, or Freddy. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-damien-a-safe-name-for-my-son/256950/82 "2004-07-28T16:03:14Z")
Besides, Damien was also the name of the priest in “The Exorcist,” so it balances out. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-damien-a-safe-name-for-my-son/256950/83 "2004-07-28T18:27:21Z")
I vote **NO!** Pick another name! ---
**Author:** ![cbawlmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@cbawlmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbawlmer)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-damien-a-safe-name-for-my-son/256950/84 "2004-07-28T22:05:34Z")
Devil name! Devil naaaaaaaame!!! Seriously, don’t do it. That name has one and only one major cultural association, and it’s all about the devil. I don’t believe in such things, but I do watch TV and _The Omen_ is on all the frickin’ time. I wouldn’t name a child Damien any more than I’d name one Leatherface. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2004, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-damien-a-safe-name-for-my-son/256950/85 "2004-07-28T23:37:10Z")
> [@Darth Nader](#): > > Thanks for all the input, folks… I just found out today that the Wife Unit hasn’t ever actually **seen** The Omen-- So I think we’ll get back to the name thing after that 😉 Don’t make her watch it you meannie. That movie gives me the willies. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-damien-a-safe-name-for-my-son/256950/86 "2004-07-29T01:10:45Z")
**Darth** already gave her the willy. That’s why they have to pick a baby name. ---
**Author:** ![calm\_kiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc348/32.png) [@calm\_kiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/calm_kiwi)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-damien-a-safe-name-for-my-son/256950/87 "2004-07-29T01:23:55Z")
I’m sure **Darth** is very happy his willy doesn’t give her the willies. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Nader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Darth\_Nader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Nader)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-damien-a-safe-name-for-my-son/256950/88 "2004-07-29T09:59:17Z")
Yes. Yes I am. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-damien-a-safe-name-for-my-son/256950/89 "2004-07-29T12:01:14Z")
I haven’t read the thread but I’ll throw in my opinion that naming a kid Damien is a bad idea. It’s just a bad first impression for anyone who has seen The Omen. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-damien-a-safe-name-for-my-son/256950/90 "2004-07-29T18:46:20Z")
“The Omen” was the first thing that came into my mind when I saw the thread title. That being said, I would still say that it’s a fine name. In fact, like an earlier poster said, I would have kind of a “cool badass” (in a good way) connotation to it if I saw a kid named that. Hell, I wouldn’t mind naming my own (theoretical) son that. ---
**Author:** ![Mumboo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Mumboo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mumboo)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2004, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-damien-a-safe-name-for-my-son/256950/91 "2004-07-29T23:13:15Z")
My Nephew’s name is Damien and he is a great guy. I don’t think anyone even thinks about the movie. Coincidentally Yellowval he is from the middle of nowhere Maine as well, he is also 20 years old. His Mom is M.J… Same Damien? ---
**Author:** ![yellowval](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/919ad9/32.png) [@yellowval](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowval)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2004, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-damien-a-safe-name-for-my-son/256950/92 "2004-08-02T16:57:24Z")
Nope. Middle of Nowhere MN is Minnesota, not Maine (ME). But it’s good to see that there are at least two perfectly nice, normal young men named Damien out there! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-damien-a-safe-name-for-my-son/256950.md?page=4)