Given name & surname
Desire
“one who is desired”
Desire is a variant of Desiree. One French interpretation is “one who is desired.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Desire is a variant of Desiree. One French interpretation is “one who is desired.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Desire 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 1915. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Desire through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 5,468
- 132 boys · 5,336 girls
- Most popular year
- 2008
- 164 babies
- 2025
- 95
- #2,244 for girls · #6,546 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −2%
- Steady
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 10% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 82 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 2,244 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 6.1% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 164 in 2008. It also appeared in 13 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Florida had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (8). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 5,162 as a first name in 2020; 860 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Desire
- Desire OparanozieNigerian footballerborn 1993
- Dizzy DeeZimbabwean reggae singer, songwriter, musical artist and record producerborn 1985
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Desire, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Dulce
“a very sweet woman”
>99% girls
Dayana
“resembling a bird of prey”
>99% girls
Destiny
“recognizing one's certain fortune; fate”
1% boys · 99% girls
Delaney
“the dark challenger” · “from the elder-tree grove”
1% boys · 99% girls
Daniella
“God is my judge”
>99% girls
Danna
“God is my judge”
>99% girls
Rylie
“from the rye clearing” · “from the rye clearing; a courageous woman”
3% boys · 97% girls
Elise
“my God is bountiful” · “God is my oath”
>99% girls