Desiderio
Of Latin origin, meaning "desired one" or "longed for".
Name Census estimates that about 511 living Americans carry the first name Desiderio. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Desiderio today is around 39 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Desiderio births was 1979 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Desiderio. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
511
~ 1 in 670,752 Americans
Peak year
1979
14 babies that year
Average age
39
years old
2024 SSA rank
#11,226
Tracked since 1910
Popularity
Desiderio: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Desiderio from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 12 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 78 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1970s peak, Desiderio remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Desiderio by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Desiderio during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Desiderios live
Origin
Meaning and history of Desiderio
The name Desiderio has its origins in the Latin language and can be traced back to ancient Roman times. It is derived from the Latin word "desiderare," which means "to desire" or "to long for." This name was commonly given to children as a way of expressing the parents' wish or desire for something specific, such as a son or good fortune.
During the Roman era, the name Desiderio was relatively popular among the upper classes and aristocracy. It was often used to name sons who were highly anticipated or desired. The earliest recorded instances of this name can be found in Roman historical records and inscriptions from the 1st and 2nd centuries AD.
One notable historical figure who bore the name Desiderio was Desiderius, the last king of the Lombards in Italy. He ruled from 757 to 774 AD and was known for his conflict with the Papal States and the Frankish king Charlemagne. Despite his military efforts, he was eventually defeated by Charlemagne, who annexed the Lombard kingdom.
In the Middle Ages, the name Desiderio continued to be used, particularly in Italy and other regions influenced by Latin culture. It was often associated with religious figures and saints, such as Saint Desiderio of Vienne, a 7th-century bishop and patron saint of Vienne, France.
During the Renaissance period, the name Desiderio gained popularity among Italian intellectuals and artists. One notable figure was Desiderio da Settignano (1428-1464), an Italian sculptor and architect who was renowned for his delicate and naturalistic style.
Another famous bearer of the name was Desiderio Erasmus (1466-1536), a Dutch Renaissance humanist, Catholic priest, social critic, and teacher. He was one of the most influential scholars of his time and is best known for his critical editions of the New Testament and his satirical works.
In the 19th century, the Italian composer Desiderio Pavesi (1815-1884) gained recognition for his operas and sacred works. He was a prominent figure in the musical scene of Milan and helped establish the city's reputation as a center of Italian opera.
While the name Desiderio has its roots in Latin and was most commonly used in Italian and Mediterranean cultures, it has also been adopted in other regions, particularly in Spain and Latin America. However, it remains a relatively uncommon name in many parts of the world today.
People
Desiderio + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Desiderio as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with D
Other first names starting with D with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Desiderio: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Desiderio?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 511 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Desiderio going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 670,752 US residents.
Is Desiderio a common name?
We classify Desiderio as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 635 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Desiderio most popular?
The single biggest year for Desiderio was 1979, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Desiderio is about 39 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Desiderio a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Desiderio in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.