Desi

Desi - A very unique male name

Desi appeared on the charts for the first time in 1953 on position #1607. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Desi and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Desi? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Desi. The baby boy name Desi was given to 9 baby boys in 2025, ranking #3230 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 162,920 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Desi peaked in popularity 56 years ago in 1970 on position 972.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Desi, 1-5?

Desi is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Desi is currently topping the baby name charts in California at position #1,720 - and is the least popular in California at position #1,720.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Desi is where you live.

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Desi origin and meaning

Short form of Desmond or Desiderius

Desmond is Irish, 'of South Munster'; Desiderius is Latin, 'longed for' — Desi serves as the pet form of both

Desi is the nickname that became a name, fixed in American minds by Desi Arnaz of I Love Lucy. Given-name use runs from 1953, with a small peak in 1970.

Attested etymology

Desi is a 4 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Desi, pop culture references for the name Desi and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Desi

We've found the following names that sound similar to Desi, sorted by popularity.

Diego / Dick / Doug / Dax / Duke / Dash / Dickie / Dock / Doyce / Daksh /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Desi

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Desi a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Desi?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

DEZ-ee · /ˈdɛzi/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Famous bearers

• Desi Arnaz — Cuban-American bandleader and actor, Lucy's husband on I Love Lucy; born Desiderio Alberto Arnaz and famous simply as Desi (1917–1986) Historical

Style

Nickname nameShort form

Why parents choose it

Desi is breezy and showbiz-warm, a mid-century nickname with real swing.

Worth knowing

• Today 'desi' is also the everyday word for South Asian diaspora identity — a strong second meaning
• Reads as a nickname for Desmond