Feminine form of Demetrius, from Demeter, Greek goddess of the harvest.
Demetria is a Greek feminine name derived from Demeter (Δημήτηρ), the great goddess of the harvest, grain, and the fertility of the earth in classical Greek religion. The name essentially means "devoted to Demeter" or "gift of Demeter," and carries with it one of the most powerful mythological narratives in Western tradition: Demeter's grief at the abduction of her daughter Persephone, which caused the earth to wither until Persephone was returned — the mythological explanation for the seasons themselves. To bear this name is to carry a story about motherhood, loss, and the regeneration of the world.
In ancient Greece and Rome, Demetria was a common name, particularly in regions where Demeter worship was strong — the Eleusinian Mysteries, celebrated near Athens, were among the most significant religious rites of the ancient world. The masculine form, Demetrius, was borne by kings of Macedonia and Syria; the feminine Demetria appears in inscriptions and texts throughout the Hellenistic world. The name persisted through the Byzantine period and into the Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition, where Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki became one of the most venerated martyrs of the Eastern Church.
In contemporary culture, Demetria is perhaps most recognizable as the full birth name of the singer Demi Lovato, who has used it publicly in recent years. Actress Demi Moore's name also derives from this root. The name sits beautifully between its formal, mythologically resonant full form and the affectionate shortening Demi — giving a child both a name of extraordinary depth and a practical, friendly everyday version.