Desi

♂ Boy

Pronounced DEZ-ee /ˈdɛz.i/High

Meaning: Short form of Desiderio, from Latin desiderium, 'longing, desire' — a longed-for childHigh

In 30 seconds: The name that ran Hollywood's first empire of reruns: Desi, short for Desiderio, means 'longed-for'. Desi Arnaz made it — and the word 'Babalu' — American household sounds.

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Origin HighSpanish, Latin

MeaningShort form of Desiderio, from Latin desiderium, 'longing, desire' — a longed-for child

U.S. rank (2025)#4578 ↘ Falling

2025 U.S. births22 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1970

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,346

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

Desi abbreviates Desiderio — Latin desiderium, 'longing, desire', the name given a longed-for child — borne by saints and a Lombard king before Cuban bandleader Desiderio 'Desi' Arnaz attached it forever to television history. In South Asian English, 'desi' separately means a person of the subcontinent's heritage, giving the name an unrelated modern resonance.

Arnaz's grandson kept the name in the family, and it surfaces occasionally for both sexes. It remains rare — vintage-Havana cool with a laugh track.

Did you know? Desi Arnaz didn't just star in I Love Lucy — his company Desilu pioneered the multi-camera sitcom and the rerun, then produced Star Trek.

Overall data confidence 85%

Behind the Name — Desiderio — root etymology

Variations

DesiderioDezi

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Desi Arnaz (1917–1986)
Cuban-American bandleader and producer, co-creator and star of I Love Lucy.

If you like Desi…

Ricky— the on-screen name of Desi Arnaz's famous character

Cruz— a fellow short Spanish-Cuban-flavored pick

Santiago— a classic from the same Latin naming world

Percy— shares Desi's Latin roots

Linus— the same vintage feel

Explore names like Desi

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Desi mean?

Desi is a short form of Desiderio, from Latin desiderium, meaning 'longing, desire' — a longed-for child.

How do you pronounce Desi?

It's said DEZ-ee /ˈdɛz.i/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Desi a boy or girl name?

Desi is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a boy's name.

How popular is Desi?

Desi is a rare name in the U.S., glowing with vintage television history.