"born on Sunday"
Dominic
Pronunciation: [ d-AHM-uhn-ihk ]
A lord's name carried by saints and scholars
Meaning & Origin
The Story of Dominic
Dominic comes from the Latin 'Dominicus,' derived from 'Dominus' meaning 'lord' or 'master,' and originally referred to someone belonging to or born on the Lord's Day (Sunday). Saint Dominic (1170-1221) founded the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), one of the most influential religious orders in Catholic history, and his evangelism in southern France shaped medieval Christianity.
Dominic has maintained steady popularity across Catholic-majority cultures for centuries. In the United States, it has been a consistent top-100 name since the 1990s, appealing to families of Italian, Spanish, and Catholic heritage. Its strong nickname Dom has given it renewed coolness appeal in recent years.
Saint Dominic's founding of the Dominican Order, dedicated to preaching, scholarship, and education, gave the name associations with intellectual rigor. The Dominican Republic takes its name from Saint Dominic. The name carries weight across Italian-American and Latino communities in particular.
Fun Facts
- The Dominican Republic is named after Saint Dominic, making it one of the few countries named after a person rather than a place or concept
- Vin Diesel's character in the Fast and Furious franchise is Dominic Toretto, giving Dom renewed pop culture cache
- Saint Dominic reportedly founded the tradition of the Rosary prayer in the Catholic Church
Dominic in Other Languages
Famous People Named Dominic
Dominic Thiem
Athlete
1993
Austrian professional tennis player and 2020 US Open champion
Dominic Cooper
Actor
1978
British actor known for playing Howard Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and starring in Mamma Mia! and other stage...
British actor known for playing Howard Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and starring in Mamma Mia! and other stage and screen productions
Dominic West
Actor
1969
British actor acclaimed for his roles in The Wire as Detective McNulty and in The Crown as Prince Charles, known for ver...
British actor acclaimed for his roles in The Wire as Detective McNulty and in The Crown as Prince Charles, known for versatile dramatic performances
Saint Dominic
Religious
1170
Spanish priest who founded the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), dedicated to preaching and education
Dominic Toretto Fictional
Other
Fictional street racer and protagonist of the Fast and Furious film franchise, played by Vin Diesel
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #108
- Total SSA Count
- 3,290
- Cultural Origins
- Italian Spanish English French Polish
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Formal
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Pairs Well With
Sibling Names
Also a Girl Name
Dominic is also used as a girl name, ranked #23848.
View Dominic as a girl name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Dominic
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Is Dominic a boy or girl name?
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About the Name Dominic
Dominic is a boy name with Italian, Spanish, English, French, and Polish origins . The name means "born on Sunday" in Latin .
Is Dominic a boy or girl name? Dominic is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #108 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #23,848. Dominic is more commonly used as a boy name.
Dominic is currently ranked #108 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Dominic has 3 syllables and is pronounced d-AHM-uhn-ihk, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Dominic include Dom, Nic, Nick, and Domi. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Dominic include Dominick, Dominik, Dominique, Domingo . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.