Desa

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Desa

Pronounced DEE-suh /ˈdiː.sə/Medium

Meaning: Desa is a short, spare girl's name with a couple of paths. In American use it often works as a clipped form of Desiree, from the French for 'desired,' or as a spelling of Desi. It also matches the South Slavic name Desa, a pet form of Desanka, tied to a root meaning something like 'the desired one.' Both threads share the idea of one longed for.Low

In 30 seconds: Desa is a short girl's name, used as a clip of Desiree, 'desired,' or the Slavic Desa from Desanka. It saw quiet late-century use and stayed rare.

💕 Browse more names

Origin LowEnglish, Slavic

MeaningDesa is a short, spare girl's name with a couple of paths. In American use it often works as a clipped form of Desiree, from the French for 'desired,' or as a spelling of Desi. It also matches the South Slavic name Desa, a pet form of Desanka, tied to a root meaning something like 'the desired one.' Both threads share the idea of one longed for.

U.S. rank (2002)#14067 ↘ Falling

2002 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1978

Total births (all-time)≈ 239

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Desa reads as a pared-down form of Desiree, the French name meaning 'desired,' and it also stands alone as a South Slavic name short for Desanka. American families used it as a compact, distinctive alternative to the longer forms.

It was consistently rare, given to only about fifteen girls a year at its peak around 1978 and never spreading widely. A girl named Desa would be middle-aged today.

Did you know? Desa turns up in two traditions at once: as an American short form of Desiree and as a South Slavic pet name from Desanka, both circling the idea of being desired.

Overall data confidence 35%

References - Desa — Short form of Desiree / Slavic Desa (Desanka); 'desired'; late-century, dual root flagged

Variations

DesireeDesiDesankaDeesa

Nicknames

DeeDesi

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Desa…

Desiree— a parent name it can shorten

Desi— a like short feminine form

Deana— a comparable Dee- girl's name

Dessa— a similar spare -essa feminine

Explore names like Desa

By themerare feminine short-form

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Desa mean?

It is a short form of Desiree, 'desired,' or the Slavic Desa from Desanka, circling the same idea.

How do you pronounce Desa?

It is said DEE-suh /ˈdiː.sə/ - two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Desa a boy or girl name?

Desa is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Desa?

It was always rare, seeing its quiet peak in the late nineteen-seventies.