Dimitri

Dimitri is the cosmopolitan blend of French and Russian. The Slavic form of the name is typically spelled Dmitri(y) and, like Ivan, Sacha, Vladimir and Yuri, we think of this one as quintessentially Russian (Дмитрий). The Slavs adopted the name from the Greek Δημητριος (Dēmētrios) meaning “follower of Demeter”. Demeter was one of the great ancient Greek divinities – she was the earth mother who presided over the grains and fertility and is often referred to as the goddess of the harvest. The name Demeter comes from the Greek δε (de) "earth" and μητηρ (meter) "mother". However, what really popularized the name Demetrius in medieval Europe was a revival interest in an early 4th century Greek saint named Demetrius. Saint Demetrius was often depicted alongside St. George as one of the patron saints of the Crusades (a series of religious wars from the 11th to 13th centuries whereby European Christians attempted to recapture access to the Holy Lands from invading and occupying Muslims). Demetrius was greatly revered as a military martyr during a time of Christian persecution under the rule of Roman Emperor Diocletian which is why he was invoked during the Crusades. Saint Demetrius became particularly popular in the Eastern Orthodox Church and among the Slavic people specifically. The name Dmitri has had a long and successful career in Russia, for instance. In terms of Western Europeans, the French are the main admirers of charming Dmitri and adopted the name for themselves in the form of Dimitri. Dmitry remains a hugely common name in Russia, but Dimitri sees impressive circulation in France, as well. In Greece, Dimitrios is a Top 3 pick for baby boys and Dimitar is a Top 10 in Bulgaria.