Dimitri

Dimitri is a traditional Slavic variant of the Ancient Greek name Dēmḗtrios, which means 'belonging to Demeter' or 'dedicated to the goddess Demeter'. This meaning refers to the Greek goddess of fertility, grain, and harvest, Demeter. The name has spread primarily in Slavic regions, especially in Russia, where it became popular through the veneration of the martyr Demetrios of Thessaloniki (2nd to 3rd century AD).

What does the name Dimitri mean?

Dimitri is the Slavic form of the Ancient Greek Dēmḗtrios and means 'belonging to Demeter' or 'dedicated to the goddess Demeter'. This designation refers to the Greek goddess associated with fertility, agriculture, and harvest. The name is prevalent in Slavic regions, especially in Russia, where Saint Demetrios of Thessaloniki (2nd to 3rd century AD) plays a significant role. In contemporary Russia, the spelling Dimitri is less common; variants without the vowel, such as Dmitri and Dmitrij, are more common. Dimitri is primarily used in France and Greece as a short and affectionate form of Dimitrios. Other forms include Demetrio, Dimitar, Dimitris, and Dumitru, as well as the diminutive forms Dima, Dimi, and Mitja.

Where does the name Dimitri come from?

The name Dimitri derives from Dēmḗtēr (Δημήτηρ), the goddess of agriculture, earth, and harvest. The name consists of the Ancient Greek words dá, meaning 'land, earth, soil', and mḗtēr, meaning 'mother, origin, source', conveying the meaning 'Mother Earth'. The words in Ancient Greek are: dá (δᾶ) = land, earth, soil and mḗtēr (μήτηρ) = mother, origin, source.

How do you pronounce Dimitri?

The pronunciation of Dimitri is three syllables and has a clear rhythm. It is pronounced 'Di-mi-tri' [diˈmitʁi], with the name starting with a bright, short vowel that conveys liveliness. The emphasis is on the middle syllable, giving the name structure. The ending '-tri' sounds concise and distinct, making Dimitri sound powerful and tradition-conscious – present, sonorous, and characterful.

When is the name day of Dimitri?

The most important name day for Dimitri is celebrated on April 9 (Catholic) and October 26 (Orthodox) to commemorate Saint Demetrios of Thessaloniki.

Popularity

In Germany, Dimitri is a very popular first name. Currently, it ranks 1,751st on the list of the most common male baby names. Its best ranking was in 1993 when it reached 104th place. In the last ten years, Dimitri has been given as a first name about 340 times, placing it 1,127th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 1,157th.

Nicknames & pet names

Di / Diem / Dim / Dima / Diman / Dimas / Dimatrix / Dimba / Dimi / Dimish / Dimitree / Dimitrix / Dimka / Dimo / Dimour / Dimtschik / Dimtus / Dimuska / Gregi / Mitja

Similar first names

Famous people

• Dimitri (animated character from the film 'Anastasia')
• Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd (main character from the video game 'Fire Emblem Three Houses')
• Dimitri Bakradze (American scholar)
• Dimitri Bashkirov (Georgian musician)
• Dimitri Belikov (fictional character from Vampire Academy)
• Dimitri Borovik (biathlete from Estonia)
• Dimitri Djollo (footballer from the Netherlands)
• Dimitri Galiamin (football player from Russia)
• Dimitri Goanta (Romanian water polo player)
• Dimitri Godunok (Russian footballer)
• Dimitri Jorjadze (racing driver from America)
• Dimitri Karlow (Russian handball player)
• Dimitri Kevin Cavare (French footballer)
• Dimitri Koslowski (YouTube star - Kazakh singer)
• Dimitri Kudinov (footballer from Russia)
• Dimitri Leonidas (actor from England)
• Dimitri Makarov (Russian football player)
• Dimitri Papadimos (Egyptian photographer)
• Dimitri Payet (football player from Réunion)
• Dimitri Pelo (rugby player from France)