Desire Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Desire is derived from the Latin 'desiderium', meaning longing or wish. It evolved through Old French into its modern form in English. The name embodies traits of aspiration and passion, with no biblical relevance. It gained popularity in the Middle Ages and has maintained a unique status in contemporary naming trends.
The name Desire is most popular in Florida, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Desire has been too falling for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Desire' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 5669th out of 7545 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 20187th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 9173rd out of 23106 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 5469th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2995th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1416th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1605th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2117th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Desire' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Desire"
Pronunciation
/dɪˈzaɪər/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The name Desire comes from the Latin word 'desiderium', which means longing or wish. It was used in Medieval Latin as a given name.
Meaning
longing, wish
Language Evolution
Desiderius (Latin), Desire (Old French), Desire (Modern English)
Historical Usage
The name Desire gained popularity during the Middle Ages, particularly in France, and has been used in English-speaking countries since the 19th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Desirée, Desirae, Desi
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Desire is seen as a unique and somewhat romantic name, often associated with passion and aspiration.
Famous People
Desiree Rogers, American businesswoman, Desiree Linden, American marathon runner
Explore More Desire Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Desire"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Desire"
"Desire" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 5669th of 7545 | 20 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 20187th of 24088 | 11 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 9173rd of 23106 | 88 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 5469th of 12526 | 95 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 2995th of 19264 | 375 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1416th of 27321 | 1,685 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1605th of 35406 | 2,025 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2117th of 30306 | 1,073 |
Regional Popularity of "Desire" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - |
74.46% 5080th/6822 |
- |
Regional Popularity of "Desire" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - |
94.59% 2625th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
95.27% 2798th/2937 |
62.82% 2188th/3483 |
- |
46.46% 1879th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
43.15% 1590th/3685 |
31.60% 1414th/4475 |
31.09% 1615th/5194 |
20.66% 1305th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
32.28% 1479th/4582 |
23.64% 1221st/5164 |
24.08% 1761st/7313 |
24.64% 1839th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
38.38% 1529th/3984 |
48.43% 2173rd/4487 |
30.52% 2082nd/6822 |
48.01% 3013th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Desire"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Desire" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.