Declining since 1993, #1,427 for girls today.
Popularity of Desiree since 1910
Babies named Desiree per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 20 |
| 1920s | 52 |
| 1930s | 42 |
| 1940s | 148 |
| 1950s | 3,063 |
| 1960s | 7,151 |
| 1970s | 9,865 |
| 1980s | 21,809 |
| 1990s | 23,492 |
| 2000s | 12,812 |
| 2010s | 3,855 |
| 2020s | 1,254 |
Meaning & origin
Desiree is a name of French origin meaning 'desired', first recorded in U.S. data in 1910. Its peak popularity came in 1983 when it ranked 206th, and it saw a resurgence in the 1980s, appearing among the top 500 names for girls. Since 1993, its usage has been in a steady decline. A 2025 estimate suggests 1 in 10644 newborns are named Desiree, with the top states being Tennessee, California, and Illinois. The spelling Désirée is also used, reflecting the original French form.
Derived from the French verb 'desirer', meaning 'to desire'. The name came into use in the English-speaking world in the 19th century, often associated with the French phrase 'la désirée' (the desired one). It has been a steady presence in the United States since the 1910s, with a notable rise in the 1970s and 1980s.
Where Desiree 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.
“Desiree” around the world
Where Desiree lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Desi, Dee, Des
Sibling names for Desiree
Names that share Desiree's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Desiree
Names whose popularity has moved with Desiree's over the last 50 years.
