Dominic Name Meaning: Origin, Popularity & Nicknames

What Does Dominic Mean?

The name Dominic is a Latin name meaning “Lordly” or “belonging to the Lord” ⁽¹⁾. Later, Romans began using the name for boy babies born on Sunday.

To this day, the Spanish word for Sunday is “Domingo.”

What is the Origin of the Name Dominic?

The origin of the name Dominic is the Latin word “dŏmĭnĭcus,” a title that emperors wore to indicate their status as rulers.

The name gained attention globally thanks to the legacy of St. Dominic (1170-1221), a revered man of God who founded the Order of Preachers.

Often called the Dominicans or Black Friars, this group was celebrated for their evangelical enthusiasm and commitment to the four ideals: study, prayer, community, and service.

Interestingly, the Dominican Republic is named for St. Dominic. Christopher Columbus’s brother Bartholomew honored the holy man by forming a settlement called Santo Domingo ⁽²⁾, later replacing the island’s original name of Hispaniola.

How Popular is the Name Dominic?

Dominic is a very popular name and has been in the Top 100 Boy’s Names since 2002. It reached its peak popularity in 2013 and 2015, ranking 68th ⁽³⁾.

There has been a notable decrease in new parents choosing Dominic in the last five years, dropping from 74th to its current ranking of 99th.

How Do I Pronounce Dominic?

There are several ways to pronounce Dominic, depending on which syllable you emphasize and how you enunciate the middle “i” sound. When emphasizing the first syllable, the “i” takes on a soft “u” sound: DAHM-uh-nik.

Alternatively, when the second syllable is stressed, the pronunciation is dahm-ihn-EEK.

Is Dominic a Boy or Girl Name?

Dominic is widely regarded as a masculine name, though the French form Dominique is considered appropriate for either gender.

Variations of Dominic

Dominic offers a multitude of regional and national variations, as well as the widely-used English-speaking spelling variations of Dominik and Dominick.

• Dahmnaic (Irish)
• Daminik (Belarusian)
• Domek (Czech)
• Domen (Slavic)
• Domenge (Catalan)
• Domenico (Italian)
• Domenik (German)
• Domi (Hungarian)
• Dominggus (Irish)
• Domingo (Italian/Spanish)
• Domingos (Portuguese)
• Dominicus (Dutch)
• Dominik (Armenian)
• Dominiks (Latvian)
• Dominique (French)
• Dominykas (Lithuanian)
• Domo (Hungarian)
• Donek (Polish)
• Dumenicu (Corsican)
• Mingo (Spanish)

Nicknames for Dominic

Many people named Dominic use the nickname Dom, but you can mix things up by choosing one of these charming nicknames:

• Domi
• Domo
• Domino
• Dommy
• Don
• Donny
• Nic
• Nico
• Nick
• Nicky

Similar Names to Dominic

Dominic is an important name in the Christian religion, particularly Roman Catholicism. These monikers have similar importance and meaning for those in search of spiritual baby names.

• Absalom
• Angelo
• Augustine
• Benedictus
• Castiel
• Cyril
• Deron
• Gabriel
• Haroun
• Isais
• Joshua
• Makafui
• Michael
• Muhammad
• Raphael
• Tahir
• Theodore
• Uriel
• Zachariah
• Zimra

Middle Names for Dominic

Because Dominic is a mighty, masculine name with three syllables, the best middle names are those that are slightly shorter, with one or two syllables. Additionally, the ending consonant will pair best with middle names that start with a vowel or a fricative, voiceless sound like h, f, sh-, th-, or v.

• Asher
• Atticus
• Blaze
• Elias
• Ethan
• Frasier
• Harrison
• Henry
• Hudson
• Isaac
• Oliver
• Shane
• Shawn
• Shepherd
• Thatcher
• Thomas
• Thompson
• Vincent
• Victor

Sibling Names for Dominic

If you’re planning on adding another little one to your brood, these sibling name ideas match up well with the rugged charm of the name Dominic.

For a Brother:

• Alonzo
• Christian
• Dante
• Fletcher
• Francisco
• Julius
• Luciano
• Sebastian

For a Sister:

• Aurelia
• Cecilia
• Evangeline
• Giuliana
• Juliette
• Mia
• Phillipa
• Teagan

Famous People Named Dominic

From astronauts to artists, your little Dominic will have some impressive figures to look up to.

• Dom DeLuise: American actor, chef, and author.
• Dom DiMaggio: American baseball player who was known as “The Little Professor.”
• Dominic A. Antonelli: American astronaut.
• Dominic Howard: British drummer for the band Muse.
• Dominic Lam: Chinese artist and doctor who invented the Chromoskedasic painting technique.
• Dominic Monaghan: British actor.
• Dominic Purcell: British-Australian actor.
• Dominic Smith: English rapper Dynamite MC.
• Dominic Thompson: British soccer player for Brentford.
• Dominic West: English actor and musician best known for his role as Jimmy McNulty in The Wire.

Dominic in Popular Culture

While Dominic doesn’t feature as one of the most-seen names in pop culture, adrenaline junkies and Marvel fans will appreciate the shoutout to some beloved fiction icons.

• Dominic Abbandando: Character in “The Godfather Part III”.
• Dominic Cobb: Portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio in the film “Inception”.
• Dominick the Donkey: Subject of an Italian Christmas song.
• Dominic of Fortune: Alias of Marvel Comic’s character David Jerome T. Fortunov.
• Dominic Sorel: Character in the anime and manga series “Eureka Seven”.
• Dominic Toretto: Vin Diesel’s character in “The Fast and the Furious”film franchise.

Dominic FAQs

Still unsure about whether Dominic is the right choice for your baby? These frequently asked questions might help you decide.