Damião

Damião is a masculine given name widely used in Portuguese-speaking countries. It derives from the Latin Damianus, itself from the Greek Damianos, meaning "to tame" or "tamer." In Portuguese, the form Damião retains the nasalized a and the final -ão, with typical pronunciation. The name has variants in other languages, including Damian, Damiano, and Damien.

In religious tradition, Damião is the Portuguese form of Damian, most famously associated with Saint Damian, one of the legendary physician-saints Cosmas and Damian. The pair, known in Portuguese as Cosme and Damião, are venerated in the Catholic Church as patron saints of medicine and healers; their feast is observed in many Lusophone communities.

The name Damião occurs in historical records in Portugal and its overseas territories, and in modern times remains common in Brazil and other Portuguese-speaking nations. It is used across secular and religious contexts and is sometimes seen in surnames and toponyms derived from personal names.

In Brazil, the day of Cosme and Damião (Dia de Cosme e Damião) on December 27 is a well-known festive occasion in which children receive sweets and small gifts from visitors, a tradition with deep cultural roots in several regions.

See also: Cosme e Damião; Damian; Damianus; Damiano.