Desire
Desire is a girl's name of English origin.
Meaning
Longing, wish, or strong desire.
Origin and history
Desire is a vocabulary-based given name derived from the Old French word 'desir' and Latin 'desiderium', meaning 'longing' or 'wish'. While historically rare, it has been used as an English given name since the Puritan era alongside other virtue and abstract noun names. In contemporary U.S. usage, it remains an uncommon choice primarily given to females.
Popularity in the United States
5,336 babies in the United States have been named Desire since 1880. It ranks #2364 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1564.
States where it is most popular
- CA (24.1 %)
- NY (16.6 %)
- TX (13.1 %)
- IL (9.1 %)
- FL (8.9 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 0 |
| 1950-1960 | 36 |
| 1960-1970 | 114 |
| 1970-1980 | 273 |
| 1980-1990 | 794 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,334 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,332 |
| 2010-2019 | 914 |
| 2020-2029 | 539 |
Fun facts
- Abstract noun names like Desire were first popularized in the 16th and 17th centuries by English Puritans expressing parents' hopes.
- Desire Minter was one of the original passengers who traveled to North America aboard the Mayflower in 1620.