Demi

[ˈdɛmi]

Meaning

a short form of Demetria, and a transcription of Greek Δήμη, Ντίμι or Ντίμη

Background Story

Demi is a short form of Demetria, the feminine form of Demetrius, and an alternate transcription of the Greek Δήμη, Ντίμι or Ντίμη. The American actress Demi Moore, born in 1962, made the name rise in popularity in the United States in the late 1980s; Moore has said she was born as Demi and named after a makeup product, though some sources claim her birth name is Demetria. The name received a further boost after 2008 with the debut album by the singer Demi Lovato, whose birth name is Demetria and who pronounces the name differently than the older actress. It is used in Ancient Greek, Bulgarian, Greek Mythology, Italian and Romanian.