Desire first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Desire has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Desire

A name of French origin meaning "longing" or "strong wish".

Popularity of Desire by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Desire is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 98% of people named Desire being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 91 female babies and 14 male babies born with the name Desire.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 14 baby boys were named Desire in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 14 91
2022 9 94
2021 10 93
2020 11 90
2019 5 84
2018 7 95
2017 10 104
2016 9 105
2015 0 70
2014 0 73
2013 0 86
2012 0 91
2011 0 105
2010 6 101
2009 0 145
2008 0 164
2007 5 126
2006 0 133
2005 0 129
2004 0 113
2003 0 119
2002 0 132
2001 0 137
2000 0 133
1999 0 147
1998 0 125
1997 0 124
1996 0 117
1995 0 145
1994 0 129
1993 0 136
1992 0 149
1991 0 147
1990 0 115
1989 0 89
1988 0 99
1987 0 108
1986 0 88
1985 0 90
1984 0 73
1983 0 87
1982 0 59
1981 0 54
1980 0 47
1979 0 45
1978 0 50
1977 0 28
1976 0 28
1975 0 26
1974 0 17

The history of the first name Desire

The name Desire is derived from the Latin word "desiderare", which means "to long for" or "to desire". It originated in the late 14th century and was initially used as a noun to express a strong wish or craving for something.

The earliest recorded use of Desire as a given name dates back to the 15th century in France, where it was occasionally bestowed upon children, particularly girls, as a symbolic representation of longing for or desiring something profound, such as virtue, knowledge, or spiritual fulfillment.

In the 16th century, the name gained popularity among French and English Puritans, who viewed it as a virtuous expression of their desire for righteousness and a closer relationship with God. Desire Browne, an English Puritan and author born in 1591, was one of the earliest recorded individuals to bear this name.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, Desire became a more widely used given name, particularly in Europe and North America. Notable individuals with this name include Desire Fearon (1636-1705), an English Puritan minister, and Desire Thobert (1723-1794), a French artist and painter.

In the 19th century, the name Desire gained further recognition, with Desire Nisard (1806-1888), a French writer and literary critic, and Desire Charnay (1828-1915), a French explorer and archaeologist who studied ancient Mesoamerican civilizations.

The 20th century saw Desire continue to be used as a given name, albeit less frequently than in previous centuries. One notable individual with this name was Desire Bassett (1919-2010), an American actress and singer who appeared in various films and television shows.

Throughout its history, the name Desire has been associated with a strong yearning or aspiration for something meaningful, whether it be spiritual, intellectual, or personal. Its Latin roots and symbolic significance have contributed to its enduring use as a given name, albeit with varying degrees of popularity across different time periods and cultures.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Desire was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Desire, please contact us.

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"Desire first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on October 31, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/desire-meaning-and-history/.

"Desire first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/desire-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 31 October, 2024

Desire first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/desire-meaning-and-history/.

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