Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Desiree
GirlFrench, Latin· “desired”
- Meaning
- desired
- Origin
- French, Latin
- Pronunciation
- DEZ-ih-ray
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #1,429
- US babies 2025
- 151
- Best rank
- #94 (1983)
- Peak year
- 1983
Meaning and origin of Desiree
Desiree is a French and Latin name that means “desired”.
Desiree is the French Desiree, meaning desired, from the Latin desiderata. Early Christians used the Latin form Desiderata for a longed-for child. Desiree Clary, the wife of Napoleon's marshal Bernadotte, later became queen of Sweden, giving the name a royal association. In English-speaking countries it became popular in the twentieth century, prized for its romantic meaning and melodic sound. It is often written with accents in French. Des and Desi are friendly nicknames.
Popularity over time
Desiree first appears in US Social Security records in 1910. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 64 different years, starting in 1954. Its best national rank was #94 in 1983, the same year it reached its highest count of 2,915 babies. In 2025, 151 babies were named Desiree, and it ranked #1,429 nationally. That is 57% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #4,517 in 1920, #1,769 in 1950, #156 in 1980, #181 in 2000, #472 in 2010, and #1,429 in 2025. Of the 83,563 US girls named Desiree since records began, 28% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 1980s come next, with 21,809 babies. Since 2010, 5,109 more have been named Desiree.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Candace, Jillian, Stefanie, Marquita, and Joanna.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Desiree ranked highest in Tennessee, California, and Illinois.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | #828 | 8 |
| California | #1033 | 26 |
| Illinois | #1147 | 7 |
| Ohio | #1177 | 7 |
| Texas | #1233 | 21 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Desiree is usually pronounced DEZ-ih-ray, with three syllables. It has seven letters, starts with D and ends in “-ee”.
Middle names for Desiree
A few middle names that flow with Desiree: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Desiree
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Lists that include Desiree
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Desiree mean?
Desiree is a French and Latin name that means “desired”.
What is the origin of the name Desiree?
Desiree has French and Latin roots. Desiree is the French Desiree, meaning desired, from the Latin desiderata.
Is Desiree a popular name?
Not especially. Desiree ranked #1,429 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Desiree a boy or girl name?
Desiree is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Desiree?
Desiree is usually pronounced DEZ-ih-ray. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings