boy's name
Demetri
deh-MEE-tree (English)
- Origin Greek
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 3
- Letters 7
- Popularity Uncommon
- Births on record 4,423
Demetri is a boy's name of Greek origin meaning "follower of Demeter," the goddess of grain and the harvest. It's a shortened form of Demetrius and Dimitri, and it has been in steady if modest use among American families since the mid-twentieth century.
- Demetri is a name of Greek origin.
- Peaked in 1992, when 178 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 69,070 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1953.
- 3 syllables, with the stress on syllable 2.
Demetri Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1950s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 44 |
| 1960s | 202 |
| 1970s | 299 |
| 1980s | 335 |
| 1990s | 1,143 |
| 2000s | 993 |
| 2010s | 880 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 373 |
What Demetri Means
Demetri means devoted to Demeter, so it carries the idea of fertile land and the harvest. Demeter's own name is usually read as earth mother, though the first half of that reading is debated.
Where Demetri Comes From
Demetri comes from Greek Demetrios, an adjective formed from the goddess Demeter, patron of grain. In Greek meter means mother, and the opening element is often taken to mean earth. Demetrios was common in the Hellenistic world and was carried by kings of Macedon. Christianity kept it alive through Saint Demetrius of Thessalonica, a fourth-century martyr still widely venerated in the Orthodox Church, and Russian shaped it as Dmitri. English spellings such as Demetri and Dimitri arose from those Greek and Russian forms, and the shorter spelling drops the Latin -us.
Demetri in Use
The name's Orthodox link keeps it common among Greek and Slavic families. English-speaking audiences know the comedian Demetri Martin, and a character named Demetrius appears in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream.
How Popular Is Demetri?
In 2025, Demetri was given to 48 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Where Demetri Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names That Peaked Alongside Demetri
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Demetri Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Demetri over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Demetri
- English deh-MEE-tree
1 nickname for Demetri
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Demetri in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Demetri
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Demetri — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Demetri
What does the name Demetri mean?
Follower of Demeter, the Greek goddess of grain and the harvest.
What is the difference between Demetri and Dimitri?
They're spellings of one name, with Dimitri closer to the Russian form.
Is Demetri a Greek name?
Yes. It comes from the ancient Greek Demetrios.
How popular is the name Demetri?
In 2025, Demetri was given to 48 babies in the United States. It is used consistently but remains uncommon.
Is Demetri a girl's or a boy's name?
Demetri is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Demetri?
Demetri has 3 syllables.
When was Demetri most popular?
Demetri peaked in 1992, when 178 babies were given the name. Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for Demetri?
Demetri is usually shortened to Demi.
Is Demetri a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Demetri currently ranks #2,687 in the United States. Its usage has held steady over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.