Fun Facts About the Name Desi
- More than 3 thousand babies named Desi: U.S. records list 3,395 babies given the name Desi from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 1,049 girls received the name Desi - about 1 girl for every 2 boys.
What Does the Name Desi Mean?
Desi is most often a short form of Latin-derived names such as Desiderio and Desideria, meaning "desired" or "longed-for." The root is Latin desiderium ("longing, desire"), from desiderare ("to long for, desire"). In Spanish, Desi is a familiar diminutive of Desiderio (male) and Desideria (female). The same Latin root produced French Désiré and Désirée, and the English short form Desi can also stand for Desiree.
As an English nickname for Desmond, Desi has a separate origin. Desmond comes from Irish Deas-Mhumhain, meaning "South Munster," so in that use the short form does not carry the meaning "desired." A separate, unrelated term is South Asian desi, from Sanskrit deśīya ("local, indigenous"), which is not traditionally a personal name.
Desi Name History & Origins
The Latin name Desiderius was used in late antiquity and the early Middle Ages. Several Christian saints bore it, and a Lombard king named Desiderius ruled in Italy until Charlemagne conquered the Lombard kingdom in 774. The feminine form is Desideria. From Latin, the name passed into Romance languages as Desiderio, Desidério, and Désiré/Désirée. In Spanish, Desi is a familiar short form of Desiderio.
In the English-speaking world, Desi is used as a nickname for Desmond and as a short form of Desiderio or Desiree. The Cuban-born entertainer Desi Arnaz (1917 - 1986) was born Desiderio Alberto Arnaz y de Acha III and used Desi professionally. Desi also appears as a feminine given name in English, often as a brief form of Desiree.
The South Asian term desi developed separately from Hindi-Urdu desī, ultimately from Sanskrit deśa ("country, region"). It means "local" or "indigenous" and is used for South Asian people, products, or culture; it is not a traditional given name in that context.
How Popular is the Name Desi?
Desi recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1970. Its best rank was #984 in 1970.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,096 | 35 | 0.0022% |
| 2024 | #3,976 | 37 | 0.0023% |
| 2023 | #4,481 | 31 | 0.0019% |
| 2022 | #3,660 | 42 | 0.0026% |
| 2021 | #4,182 | 34 | 0.0021% |
| 2020 | #4,192 | 33 | 0.0020% |
| 2019 | #4,801 | 28 | 0.0017% |
| 2018 | #4,091 | 35 | 0.0021% |
| 2017 | #6,106 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2016 | #5,495 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 2015 | #6,524 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2014 | #6,260 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2013 | #6,808 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2012 | #7,549 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2011 | #7,201 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2010 | #6,024 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2009 | #8,564 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2008 | #9,102 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2007 | #16,031 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2006 | #5,773 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2005 | #9,622 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2004 | #10,111 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #16,440 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #16,125 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #12,408 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #9,345 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1999 | #10,617 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1998 | #9,489 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1997 | #8,526 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #9,826 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1995 | #7,654 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1994 | #12,197 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #8,226 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1992 | #13,854 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #10,566 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #11,782 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1986 | #8,780 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1985 | #7,110 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #6,415 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1983 | #7,478 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1982 | #8,460 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #6,446 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1980 | #6,414 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1979 | #6,844 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1978 | #4,995 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1977 | #4,275 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1976 | #6,180 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1975 | #5,233 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1974 | #5,878 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1973 | #5,689 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1972 | #6,084 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1971 | #5,210 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1970 | #4,561 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1968 | #5,779 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1967 | #4,373 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1966 | #6,821 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1965 | #2,618 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1964 | #3,139 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1963 | #2,638 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1962 | #3,198 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1961 | #3,219 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1960 | #2,835 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 1959 | #2,067 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1958 | #2,399 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1957 | #2,963 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1956 | #2,476 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1955 | #2,230 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1954 | #4,047 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1952 | #5,057 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1949 | #5,428 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,578 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 2024 | #3,223 | 37 | 0.0022% |
| 2023 | #3,639 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 2022 | #3,632 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 2021 | #4,525 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 2020 | #3,510 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 2019 | #4,255 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2018 | #6,430 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2017 | #4,358 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2016 | #4,657 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2015 | #5,802 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2014 | #5,301 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2013 | #4,848 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2012 | #3,925 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2011 | #3,534 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 2010 | #3,837 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 2009 | #3,419 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 2008 | #4,942 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 2007 | #4,270 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 2006 | #4,729 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 2005 | #6,321 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2004 | #3,899 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2003 | #3,135 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 2002 | #3,205 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 2001 | #3,746 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 2000 | #2,754 | 33 | 0.0017% |
| 1999 | #2,884 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 1998 | #3,521 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1997 | #2,560 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 1996 | #3,136 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1995 | #4,336 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1994 | #2,871 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1993 | #2,365 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1992 | #2,549 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1991 | #2,251 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1990 | #2,384 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1989 | #2,713 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1988 | #2,004 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 1987 | #2,348 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1986 | #1,972 | 30 | 0.0016% |
| 1985 | #2,311 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1984 | #1,994 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1983 | #1,720 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1982 | #2,352 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1981 | #1,643 | 36 | 0.0020% |
| 1980 | #1,317 | 51 | 0.0029% |
| 1979 | #1,122 | 64 | 0.0037% |
| 1978 | #1,275 | 50 | 0.0030% |
| 1977 | #1,272 | 49 | 0.0030% |
| 1976 | #1,684 | 31 | 0.0020% |
| 1975 | #1,285 | 45 | 0.0029% |
| 1974 | #1,138 | 52 | 0.0033% |
| 1973 | #1,138 | 52 | 0.0033% |
| 1972 | #1,001 | 65 | 0.0040% |
| 1971 | #1,045 | 61 | 0.0034% |
| 1970 | #984 | 68 | 0.0037% |
| 1969 | #1,206 | 43 | 0.0024% |
| 1968 | #1,260 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 1967 | #1,722 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1966 | #1,696 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1965 | #1,941 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1964 | #1,413 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 1963 | #1,383 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1962 | #1,347 | 34 | 0.0016% |
| 1961 | #1,610 | 25 | 0.0012% |
| 1960 | #1,276 | 38 | 0.0018% |
| 1959 | #1,203 | 42 | 0.0020% |
| 1958 | #1,427 | 30 | 0.0014% |
| 1957 | #1,397 | 32 | 0.0015% |
| 1956 | #992 | 57 | 0.0027% |
| 1955 | #1,297 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 1954 | #1,098 | 47 | 0.0023% |
| 1953 | #1,063 | 47 | 0.0024% |
| 1952 | #1,879 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1951 | #3,436 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1948 | #3,805 | 5 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Desi Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are strong in material matters, determined and stubborn. You have good business ability. You are a good worker, steady and practical, a builder who takes responsibility well. These qualities may bring you a position of authority and power. You are a doer, down-to-earth, serious-minded, reliable, and self-disciplined; have good power of concentration. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Desi's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Desi's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.