Desma
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "chain" or "bond".
Name Census estimates that about 315 living Americans carry the first name Desma. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Desma today is around 50 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Desma births was 1968 (17 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Desma. 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
315
~ 1 in 1,088,109 Americans
Peak year
1968
17 babies that year
Average age
50
years old
1998 SSA rank
#12,880
Tracked since 1915
Popularity
Desma: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Desma from the 1910s through to the 1990s, spanning 9 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 107 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1970s peak, Desma remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Desma 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 Desma during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Desma
The name Desma is believed to have originated from the Greek language, deriving its roots from the word "desmos," which means "bond" or "chain." This name's earliest known usage traces back to ancient Greece, where it was likely given to individuals with a strong connection or bond to their family, community, or beliefs.
During the classical period of ancient Greece, the name Desma held significance as a representation of unity and strength. It was often associated with concepts of loyalty, devotion, and unwavering commitment. In Greek mythology, there are references to deities and figures whose names or epithets had connections to the word "desmos," further solidifying the name's symbolic meaning.
One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the name Desma was a Greek poet and philosopher who lived in the 5th century BCE. While few details about her life remain, her works were celebrated for their exploration of the human condition and the bonds that connect individuals to their communities and the natural world.
In the 3rd century BCE, a prominent Athenian statesman and orator named Desma played a pivotal role in the city's political affairs. He was known for his passionate speeches advocating for unity and solidarity among the Greek city-states in the face of external threats.
During the Byzantine era, a notable figure named Desma emerged as a renowned scholar and theologian. She dedicated her life to studying and preserving the teachings of the early Christian church, and her writings were widely influential in shaping the development of Orthodox Christian theology.
In the 12th century, a woman named Desma gained recognition as a skilled poet and author in the court of the Norman Kingdom of Sicily. Her works celebrated the beauty of the Mediterranean region and explored themes of love, loyalty, and the enduring bonds of friendship.
Another notable individual named Desma was a 16th-century Italian artist and sculptor who is credited with creating several iconic works that adorned churches and public spaces in Renaissance-era Florence. Her sculptures often depicted scenes from Greek mythology, drawing inspiration from the ancient roots of her name.
Throughout history, the name Desma has been associated with individuals who embodied qualities of steadfastness, commitment, and a deep appreciation for the bonds that unite communities and cultures. While its usage may have evolved over time, the name's core meaning and symbolism have remained rooted in its ancient Greek origins.
People
Desma + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Desma 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
Desma: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Desma?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 315 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Desma 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 1,088,109 US residents.
Is Desma a common name?
We classify Desma as "Very Rare". It ranks above 79.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 445 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Desma most popular?
The single biggest year for Desma was 1968, when 17 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Desma is about 50 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Desma a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Desma in the SSA data are female. 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.