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Name Lineage

    The first name Desmond

    A boy’s name.

    Pronounced /ˈdɛzmənd/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    From Irish Ó Deasmhumhnaigh.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 21 boys were named Desmond, making it the 1,307th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2009, with 22 births (#1,133).

    01530 1996200020052010201520202025
    321
    babies named Desmond, 1996–2025
    #1,307
    rank in 2025
    2009
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Desmond with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Desmond at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 839 boys born in the United States were named Desmond, the 376th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1992, when 1,069 were.

    01,0002,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    40,264
    babies named Desmond since 1880
    #376
    rank in 2025
    1992
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Nicknames for Desmond

    • Des
    • Dez
    • Dezzy

    Famous people named Desmond

    27 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Desmond Doss
      American solder, pacifist, and combat medic; recipient of the Purple Heart medal, recipien, 1919–2006
    • Desmond Llewelyn
      British actor (1914-1999)
    • Desmond Harrington
      American actor (born 1976)
    • Desmond Connell
      Catholic cardinal (1926-2017)
    • Desmond Bane
      American basketball player (born 1998)
    • Desmond Mason
      American basketball player (born 1977)
    • Desmond Armstrong
      American soccer player, born 1964
    • Desmond Bagley
      British writer (1923-1983)
    • Desmond Piper
      Australian field hockey player, born 1941
    • Desmond Chiam
      Australian actor, born 1989
    • Brian Desmond Hurst
      Belfast-born film director (1895-1986)
    • Desmond Howard
      American football player (born 1970)

    Questions

    What does the name Desmond mean?
    From Irish Ó Deasmhumhnaigh.
    How popular is the name Desmond?
    In 2025, 21 boys born in England and Wales were named Desmond, ranking 1,307th. Its peak was 2009, with 22 births.
    What are nicknames for Desmond?
    Common nicknames for Desmond include Des, Dez, Dezzy.
    Is Desmond a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 99% of the 40,264 US babies named Desmond since 1880 were boys.
    When was Desmond most popular?
    1992 in the United States, when 1,069 babies were named Desmond, its highest rank at 264th.
    How do you pronounce Desmond?
    Desmond is /ˈdɛzmənd/, 2 syllables.
    Is Desmond also a surname?
    Yes. Desmond is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.