Boy name · Irish Gaelic
Desmond
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: from South MunsterDesmond is a boy's name that is of Irish Gaelic origin: from South Munster. It is used in Irish and English.
- Meaning
- From South Munster
- Origin
- Irish Gaelic
- Gender
- Boy
- Say it
- DEZ-mund (Irish)
Meaning and origin of Desmond
As a boy's name, Desmond is of Irish Gaelic origin: from South Munster. It is used in Irish and English.
In Irish, say DEZ-mund. Respellings are a guide; accents vary by region.
Desmond is also a surname: the 4,859th most common in the 2020 US Census, held by 7,048 people. See the most common last names.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Desmond on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Desmond on 4 lists.
“Irish name meaning from South Munster, smooth and warm”
From Boy dog names, distinguished names for gentleman dogs
“From Deasmhumhain, South Munster, an old Irish kingdom. Say DEZ-mund.”
From Irish boy names, irish boys' names in English spelling
“From south Munster; Irish Gaelic. Shared with Archbishop Tutu”
From Old man names, grandpa names coming back for babies
“From South Munster; Irish, Archbishop Tutu's first name”
From Unique boy names, unique vintage boy names
How popular is Desmond?
- US rank in 2025
- #376
- 839 babies, 491 per million boys
- Best rank
- #264 in 1992
- 1,069 babies that year
- Babies since 1904
- At least 40,031
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 10 per million |
| 1910s | 25 per million |
| 1920s | 34 per million |
| 1930s | 23 per million |
| 1940s | 17 per million |
| 1950s | 24 per million |
| 1960s | 61 per million |
| 1970s | 186 per million |
| 1980s | 293 per million |
| 1990s | 403 per million |
| 2000s | 316 per million |
| 2010s | 503 per million |
| 2020s | 503 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #371 | #327 | #324 | #369 | #361 | #354 | #363 | #399 | #368 | #376 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Names with a similar meaning
Middle names for Desmond
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More boy names from Irish Gaelic
- OscarPossibly deer friend (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- FinnFair, white (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- FergusMan of vigor (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- KevinGentle birth (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- RonanLittle seal (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- RoryRed king (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AidanLittle fire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AidenLittle fire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AodhFire, flame (Irish Gaelic, boy)
- AydenVariant of Aidan, little fire (Irish Gaelic, boy)
Desmond: common questions
What does the name Desmond mean?
Desmond is of Irish Gaelic origin: from South Munster.
Is Desmond a boy or girl name?
Desmond is mainly a boy's name.
Where does the name Desmond come from?
Desmond is of Irish Gaelic origin: from South Munster. Today it is used in Irish and English.
How do you pronounce Desmond?
In Irish, say DEZ-mund. Pronunciation can vary between languages and regions.
How popular is the name Desmond?
Desmond ranked #376 in the US in 2025, with 839 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What middle names go with Desmond?
Middle names that flow well with Desmond include Basil, Beau, Clark, Eli and Glenn. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.