Demi

Demi is a given name and a prefix with several cross-cutting meanings. As a name, it is most often feminine and is commonly used as an independent given name as well as a diminutive form of Demetria or related names. The spelling Demi appears in many English-speaking countries and has been popularized by public figures and fictional characters alike. Notable people with the name include the American actress and former model Demi Moore and the American singer and actor Demi Lovato.

Etymology and usage as a given name

The name Demi is frequently regarded as a standalone form, but it can also be a shortened variant of Demetria, Demiana, or other Dem- names with Greek roots. Its rise in popularity in the 20th and 21st centuries reflects broader trends of using shorter, contemporary-sounding names. In addition to its use as a personal name, Demi is encountered in various linguistic contexts as a word element rather than a proper noun.

Demi- as a prefix

Demi- derives from French and means half. It is used to form a range of compound terms in English and other languages. Examples include demigod (a being who is half god and half human), demimonde (the half-world or a marginalized social sphere), and demilune (a half-moon shape). In culinary and beverage contexts, demi- is seen in terms such as demi-glace (a rich brown sauce) and demi-sec (a semi-dry style of wine or champagne). The prefix also appears in musical and historical terms.

Overall, Demi functions as both a personal name with Greek-derived roots and a productive French prefix that conveys the notion of half in various lexical families.