Given name & surname
Desi
“one who is desired; hoped for”·“one who is desired”
Desi is a variant of Desiderio. One Latin interpretation is “one who is desired; hoped for.” Desi is a variant of Desiree. One French interpretation is “one who is desired.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Desi is a variant of Desiderio. One Latin interpretation is “one who is desired; hoped for.” Desi is a variant of Desiree. One French interpretation is “one who is desired.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Desi is a variant of Desiderio. An origin associated with Desiderio is Latin. Desi is a variant of Desiree. An origin associated with Desiree is French.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1948. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Desi through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,395
- 2,347 boys · 1,048 girls
- Most popular year
- 1970
- 80 babies
- 2025
- 57
- #4,096 for girls · #4,578 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +28%
- Rising
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 45% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 35 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 4,096 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 27.9% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 22 birth records for boys in 2025. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 3,018 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Desi’s family of names
Desi has a related form in Desiree. Desi has a related form in Desiderio.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 4
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Desi
- Desi ArnazCuban-born American musician, actor and television producer (1917-1986)
- Desi SlavaBulgarian singerborn 1979
- Desi Arnaz Jr.American actor and musicianborn 1953
- Desi LydicAmerican actor and comedianborn 1981
- Desi ReijersDutch swimmerborn 1964
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Desi, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Deni
“a follower of Dionysus” · “follower of Dionysus”
33% boys · 67% girls
Daryn
“a gift of God” · “a great man”
61% boys · 39% girls
Tracey
“a woman warrior” · “one who is brave”
33% boys · 67% girls
Mauri
“a dark-skinned man; Moorish”
35% boys · 65% girls
Kelley
“a warrior” · “one who defends”
41% boys · 59% girls
Lanier
“one who works with wool”
57% boys · 43% girls
Marlo
“one who resembles driftwood”
44% boys · 56% girls
Azure
“sky blue” · “resembling a blue semiprecious stone”
52% boys · 48% girls