The name Desire is of French origin and it means "strong longing or craving." It comes from the French word "désir," which translates to "desire" in English. The name has been used historically as a given name, but it is more commonly used today as a middle name or as part of compound names like Desiree or Desiderata.
The use of Desire as a given name can be traced back to the 17th century France. It was often used among nobility and wealthy families as a way to express their deepest wishes for their children. Some famous figures with the name Desire include French novelist George Sand, whose real name was Amantine Lucile Aurore Dupin, and Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, who named her daughter Maria Christina Gabrielle "Desideria" Kahlo.
Despite its historical usage, Desire remains a rare given name today. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, there were only 14 babies named Desire between 2009 and 2018. However, it is still used as a middle name or as part of compound names, with some popular examples including Desirée (with an accent mark) and Desiree.
Overall, Desire is a unique and meaningful name with roots in French culture and history. Its meaning as a strong longing or craving makes it a powerful choice for parents looking for a distinctive and memorable name for their child.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Desire has seen a varied trend in popularity over the years in the United States.
In the early 20th century, the name Desire was relatively popular, with nine babies named Desire in 1915. However, its popularity decreased somewhat during the following decades, with six births in 1918 and five births each in 1921.
The name Desire then saw a resurgence in popularity at the beginning of the 21st century, with five births in 2007. Since then, the popularity has fluctuated:
- It reached its peak recently, with 14 births recorded in 2023.
- The name was also popular in recent years, with double-digit numbers of births recorded from 2016 to 2022.
In total, there have been 106 babies named Desire born in the United States between 1915 and 2023. This data suggests that while Desire may not be one of the most popular names, it has maintained a steady presence among baby names over the years. It is interesting to note the recent increase in popularity, with 2023 seeing the highest number of births for this name since records began.