Boy nameCurrently #368 in the USSteady
Desmond
DEZ-mund//ˈdɛzmənd//
2 syllablesPeak year: 19927 lettersStarts with D
Meaning & origin
Man from South Munster
Desmond comes from the Irish Deasmhumhnach, meaning 'man from South Munster', an old Irish kingdom, and became a personal name via a noble Anglo-Irish family. Its dignified sound is closely associated with Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Desmond's popularity over time
| Year | Births named Desmond |
|---|---|
| 1904 | 8 |
| 1908 | 6 |
| 1910 | 8 |
| 1911 | 5 |
| 1912 | 9 |
| 1913 | 17 |
| 1914 | 16 |
| 1915 | 19 |
| 1916 | 30 |
| 1917 | 22 |
| 1918 | 23 |
| 1919 | 15 |
| 1920 | 20 |
| 1921 | 30 |
| 1922 | 66 |
| 1923 | 52 |
| 1924 | 40 |
| 1925 | 33 |
| 1926 | 50 |
| 1927 | 33 |
| 1928 | 28 |
| 1929 | 28 |
| 1930 | 29 |
| 1931 | 34 |
| 1932 | 29 |
| 1933 | 22 |
| 1934 | 16 |
| 1935 | 24 |
| 1936 | 17 |
| 1937 | 23 |
| 1938 | 23 |
| 1939 | 21 |
| 1940 | 15 |
| 1941 | 25 |
| 1942 | 18 |
| 1943 | 23 |
| 1944 | 21 |
| 1945 | 23 |
| 1946 | 31 |
| 1947 | 36 |
| 1948 | 29 |
| 1949 | 26 |
| 1950 | 37 |
| 1951 | 43 |
| 1952 | 33 |
| 1953 | 44 |
| 1954 | 65 |
| 1955 | 62 |
| 1956 | 56 |
| 1957 | 49 |
| 1958 | 43 |
| 1959 | 60 |
| 1960 | 85 |
| 1961 | 92 |
| 1962 | 100 |
| 1963 | 116 |
| 1964 | 134 |
| 1965 | 124 |
| 1966 | 121 |
| 1967 | 148 |
| 1968 | 127 |
| 1969 | 132 |
| 1970 | 165 |
| 1971 | 225 |
| 1972 | 246 |
| 1973 | 279 |
| 1974 | 313 |
| 1975 | 245 |
| 1976 | 257 |
| 1977 | 378 |
| 1978 | 538 |
| 1979 | 453 |
| 1980 | 539 |
| 1981 | 387 |
| 1982 | 363 |
| 1983 | 362 |
| 1984 | 377 |
| 1985 | 682 |
| 1986 | 687 |
| 1987 | 602 |
| 1988 | 701 |
| 1989 | 770 |
| 1990 | 877 |
| 1991 | 846 |
| 1992 | 1,079 |
| 1993 | 764 |
| 1994 | 681 |
| 1995 | 676 |
| 1996 | 638 |
| 1997 | 901 |
| 1998 | 749 |
| 1999 | 752 |
| 2000 | 704 |
| 2001 | 636 |
| 2002 | 589 |
| 2003 | 562 |
| 2004 | 543 |
| 2005 | 530 |
| 2006 | 583 |
| 2007 | 681 |
| 2008 | 720 |
| 2009 | 788 |
| 2010 | 878 |
| 2011 | 843 |
| 2012 | 924 |
| 2013 | 989 |
| 2014 | 1,035 |
| 2015 | 962 |
| 2016 | 894 |
| 2017 | 1,046 |
| 2018 | 1,030 |
| 2019 | 863 |
| 2020 | 862 |
| 2021 | 920 |
| 2022 | 907 |
| 2023 | 796 |
| 2024 | 888 |
Desmond through the decades
- Desmond peaked in 1992, when 1,079 babies were named Desmond in the US.
- The 2010s were Desmond's strongest decade, averaging 946 births a year.
- Over the last 10 years of data (2015–2024), use of Desmond has risen 15% compared to the 10 years before that.
- Desmond currently ranks #368 in the US and is holding steady.
Nicknames
Des
Variants & spellings
Desmund
Famous people named Desmond
- Desmond Tutu — archbishop and activist