Desiree Girl

Popularity: #737 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: DEH-zi-ray //ˈdɛz.ɪ.reɪ//

Origin: French; Latin

Meaning: French: desired; Latin: longed for

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Desiree originates from the Latin word "desiderium," which means "desire" or "longing." This Latin term evolved into the Old French "desir," which carried similar meanings and was used in various forms throughout the medieval period. The transition into English occurred during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when French influence permeated the English language, leading to the adoption of the name in its anglicized form, Desiree, in the 19th century.

The name is often associated with the concept of yearning or aspiration, reflecting its etymological roots. Historically, the name Desiree has been borne by various notable figures, particularly in literature and the arts.

One significant milestone is its appearance in the 19th-century French novel "La Dame aux Camélias" by Alexandre Dumas fils, published in 1848, which features a character named Marguerite Gautier, who is also referred to as Desiree in some adaptations. This work has been influential in shaping the cultural perception of the name, linking it to themes of love and sacrifice.

Additionally, the name has been used in various operatic and theatrical adaptations, further embedding it in cultural narratives. Culturally, the name Desiree resonates with themes of passion and longing, often symbolizing romantic ideals.

Its association with desire has made it a popular choice in literature and the arts, where characters named Desiree often embody deep emotional connections or aspirations. The name has also inspired various diminutive forms, such as Desi, which, while not as historically significant, reflects the affectionate and personal nature of the name.

Overall, Desiree carries a rich historical and cultural significance, rooted in its etymological origins and literary associations.

Famous people named Desiree

In this section, you will find notable people named Desiree. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Desiree who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Desiree who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Desiree Akhavan is a filmmaker and actress best known for Appropriate Behavior, The Miseducation of Cameron Post, and This Is Not a Test.

Desiree Rogers is a business executive best known for her role as CEO of Johnson Publishing Company and former White House Social Secretary.

Desiree Hartsock is a television personality best known for her appearance on The Bachelor and as the Bachelorette.

Desiree Linden is a long-distance runner best known for winning the Boston Marathon.

Fictional characters named Desiree

The following list of fictional characters named Desiree is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Desiree is a fictional character from the video game series The Elder Scrolls. She is a powerful and enigmatic figure known for her connections to the Daedric Prince of Desire, Sheogorath.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Desiree, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Desiree. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Desiree was first seen in the United States in 1910.

Desiree has ranked as high as #185 nationally, which occurred in 1983, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Florida, and Pennsylvania.

In the past 5 years the name Desiree has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Desiree is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Desiree was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Desiree (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
CA 40
28%
TX 34
23%
FL 13
9%
NC 12
8%
NY 11
8%
GA 10
7%
TN 8
6%
AZ 6
4%
NJ 6
4%
OH 5
3%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Desiree.

YearBirths
2024213
2023196
2022227
2021231
2020234
2019242
2018256
2017273
2016285
2015349
2014400
2013453
2012470
2011485
2010641
2009715
2008851
20071,022
20061,103
20051,161
20041,394
20031,505
20021,550
20011,721
20001,790
19991,820
19981,999
19972,185
19962,277
19952,400
19942,546
19932,444
19922,760
19912,486
19902,575
19892,348
19882,266
19872,251
19862,006
19852,304
19842,230
19832,915
19822,097
19811,607
19801,785
19791,634
19781,809
1977983
1976837
1975753
1974772
1973752
1972785
1971751
1970788
1969772
1968732
1967732
1966798
1965855
1964781
1963819
1962571
1961561
1960531
1959499
1958502
1957492
1956556
1955766
195498
195358
195232
195131
195029
194924
194824
194727
194618
194512
19448
19438
194210
19416
194011
19398
193810
19356
19347
19325
19306
19287
192711
192512
19246
192110
19206
19199
19116
19105