A number of notables in classical antiquity are named Demetrius:

• Demetrius, a writer of Old Comedy ca. 400 BC, mentioned by Diogenes Laertius
• Demetrius of Alopece, sculptor 5th/4th century BC
• Demetrius Phalereus, philosopher and statesman of 4th century BC
• Demetrius I of Macedon Poliorcetes (336-283 BC)
• Demetrius the Fair , son of Poliorcetes
• Demetrius II of Macedon (276-229 BC)
• Demetrius of Pharos , ruler in Illyria 3rd century BC
• Demetrius I of Bactria, Indo-Greek king ca 180-165 BC
• Demetrius I of Syria, Seleucid king
• Demetrius II of Syria, his son
• Demetrius of Scepsis , grammarian and archaeologist 3rd century BC
• Demetrius Ixion , grammarian 2nd century BC
• Demetrius Lacon , Epicurean philosopher 2nd century BC
• Demetrius, composed a guide to letter-writing with 21 types and examples of each type
• Demetrius of Magnesia , writer
• Demetrius , rhetorical stylist
• Demetrius III of Syria, Seleucid king 1st century BC
• Demetrius of Tarsus , grammarian
• Demetrius the Cynic, philosopher 1st century
• Demetrius of Troezen , 1st century writer on literary history, mentioned by Athenaeus and Diogenes Laertius

Others include:

• St. Demetrius of Alexandria, 2nd/3rd century Christian bishop
• Demetrius of Antioch , 3rd century Patriarch of Antioch
• St. Demetrius of Salonica, 4th century Christian martyr