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Home › Baby Names Directory › Desai

Desai

♂ Boy

Pronounced duh-SYE /dəˈsaɪ/Medium

Meaning: From the Indian (Gujarati/Marathi) surname Desai, a title meaning 'landholder; village chief.' As a first name it is modern and uncommon; routes uncertain, which we note.Low

In 30 seconds: A surname-turned-name: Desai is an Indian title, 'landholder; village chief' (said 'duh-SYE'). Routes as a first name are uncertain, which we note.
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Origin LowIndian
MeaningFrom the Indian (Gujarati/Marathi) surname Desai, a title meaning 'landholder; village chief.' As a first name it is modern and uncommon; routes uncertain, which we note.
U.S. rank (2025)#6905 ↗ Rising
2025 U.S. births12 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2025
Total births (all-time)≈ 83

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202520092025

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

Desai is a Gujarati/Marathi surname, historically a title for a 'landholder' or 'village chief.' As a given name it is modern and uncommon, and the route is uncertain, which we note — rare in the U.S. (said 'duh-SYE').

It appears only rarely as a first name in the U.S. Rare, surname-style, and distinctive.

Did you know? Desai is a well-known Indian surname — a title meaning 'landholder' or 'village chief' — carried into rare first-name use; its route as a given name is uncertain, which we note (said 'duh-SYE').
Overall data confidence 36%
References — Desai — Indian surname/title 'landholder'; first-name route uncertain

Variations

DesaiDessaiDesaie

Nicknames

DesSai

Famous Bearers

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If you like Desai…

Sai— the -sai sound it ends on
Deshawn— a like De-sounding name
Kabir— a like Indian-heritage pick
Arya— a like modern Indian name

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Desai mean?

Desai is an Indian surname and title meaning 'landholder; village chief'; as a first name the route is uncertain, which we note.

How do you pronounce Desai?

It's said duh-SYE /dəˈsaɪ/ — two syllables, stress on the second.

Is Desai a boy or girl name?

Desai is a boy's name.

How popular is Desai?

Desai is a rare name for boys in the U.S.

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