Dmitrij

Dmitrij is a masculine given name used in several Slavic and Baltic languages. It is a variant of Dmitri, Dmitriy, and Dmitry, all derived from the Greek Demetrios, which comes from the goddess Demeter. The meaning is commonly given as “follower of Demeter” or “belonging to Demeter.”

In Cyrillic, the name is written Дмитрий. The Latinized form Dmitrij is a transliteration variant used in some languages to render the Cyrillic spelling. Other related forms include Dmitri, Dmitriy, Dmitry, and Dimitri; in some languages the form becomes Dimitrije (Serbian, Croatian) or Dmytro (Ukrainian), reflecting local pronunciation and spelling conventions.

Usage of Dmitrij is broader in Russian-, Ukrainian-, and Belarusian-speaking communities and can be found in neighboring countries and among diasporas. The name has appeared in historical records since the medieval period and remains common in modern times, often bearing regional variant spellings that reflect linguistic and cultural diversity within the Slavic world.

The name is typically masculine and has several established diminutive forms and patronymic derivatives in different languages, such as Dmitriev or Dmitriyev in Russian contexts, illustrating its integration into traditional naming practices. As with related forms, Dmitrij may be chosen for its classical association and its connection to the ancient Greek name rather than for a specific contemporary figure.