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The short answer
Dominic is a masculine English name from the Late Latin name Dominicus, meaning "of the Lord". Behind the Name notes that it was traditionally given to a child born on Sunday, and that several saints have borne it, including the 13th-century founder of the Dominican order of friars. It was in that saint's honour that the name was first used in England, from around the 13th century, and it has historically seen more use among Catholics. Common spellings include Domenic and Dominick; Dom and Nic are the usual short forms. In the United States it ranked #106 for boys in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives Dominic as "from the Late Latin name Dominicus meaning 'of the Lord'", adding that the name "was traditionally given to a child born on Sunday". The English use of the name is tied to Saint Dominic, the 13th-century founder of the Dominican order of friars: the entry says it was in this saint's honour that the name was first used in England, starting around the 13th century, and that it has historically seen more use among Catholics. Behind the Name lists many forms in other languages, among them Domenico (Italian), Domingo (Spanish), Dominique (French), Domingos (Portuguese and Galician) and Dominik (German, Polish, Czech and others).
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Late Latin | Dominicus | of the Lord |
Popularity
Dominic ranked #106 for boys in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration). Behind the Name reports the same 2025 US rank of #106.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #106 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: Dom, Nic
Variants: Domenic, Dominick
Related names: Domenico, Domingo, Dominique, Dominik, Domingos, Dominicus
What the name feels like
Dominic is a three-syllable classic with a firm consonant frame and a long history in the Catholic naming tradition. It feels established rather than trendy, and the short forms Dom and Nic give it a casual register alongside the formal full name.
Style tags: saint's name, classic, three syllables, Latin, Catholic tradition
Editorial interpretation: The style impressions above are editorial opinion, not linguistic fact. The etymology, the Sunday-birth custom and the link to Saint Dominic come from Behind the Name; the variants, diminutives and other-language forms are also from that entry.
If you like this name
Names that share Dominic's saintly Latin pedigree, its sound or its classic-but-current feel. These groupings are editorial suggestions.
Similar by origin
Similar by sound
Similar by style
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Dominic mean?
Dominic means "of the Lord". It comes from the Late Latin name Dominicus, and Behind the Name notes it was traditionally given to a child born on Sunday.
Is Dominic a saint's name?
Yes. Several saints have borne the name, including the 13th-century founder of the Dominican order of friars. Behind the Name says the name was first used in England in that saint's honour, from around the 13th century.
How popular is the name Dominic?
Dominic ranked #106 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Dominic — supports etymology, history of use, variants, diminutives, other-language forms.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
