Holding steady, #2,239 for girls today.
Popularity of Desire since 1955
Babies named Desire per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 36 |
| 1960s | 114 |
| 1970s | 273 |
| 1980s | 794 |
| 1990s | 1,334 |
| 2000s | 1,332 |
| 2010s | 914 |
| 2020s | 539 |
Meaning & origin
Desire first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1955, making it a relatively modern coinage among English vocabulary names. Its peak popularity occurred in 2008, reflecting broader trends favoring unique, meaningful names. Currently ranked 2239th (1 in 19,601), the name has maintained a stable trajectory, never becoming overly common. The name saw its highest usage in Missouri, Ohio, and Illinois, suggesting regional appeal. Desire fits within the tradition of virtue names like Hope and Grace but carries a more aspirational, passionate connotation.
Desire derives directly from the English vocabulary word meaning a strong feeling of wanting something. It has been used as a given name, primarily for girls, since the mid-20th century, likely influenced by the French name Désirée. The name reflects a trend of adopting virtue and abstract concept names in English-speaking countries.
Where Desire is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Desire” around the world
Where Desire lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Desi, Dee
Variants: Désirée, Desiree
Sibling names for Desire
Names that share Desire's style, for a brother or sister.
