| Gender | 🧑 Boy |
| Pronunciation | 📣 \d(e)-smo-nd, des-mond\ |
| Number of People | 👶 35,000 |
| Rate in 2021 | 731 |
| Numerology | 🔢 11 |
| Name origin | 🌍 Irish |
Desmond is the transferred use of an Irish surname, derived from the Gaelic "Deasmhumhnach" which was a regional classification of a 'man from South Munster'. The Kingdom of Munster (or Desmond) was an ancient Irish kingdom in southwestern Ireland named after one of its early kings, Mumhan. In the 17th century, Munster was divided between counties Cork and Kerry and thus no longer exists, except as a province or notable cultural region. Back in the late 10th and 11th centuries, the legendary Brian Boru led his warriors to victory and took the kingdom of Munster. His authority would eventually extend to the kingdoms of Leinster and Connacht to the north, briefly uniting Ireland under a single kingdom, until his untimely death in 1014 from persistently nuisance Viking invaders. He is probably considered the most revered king of Ireland. Munster became fractured by the 12th century, but was still home to several powerful dynasties, including the MacCarthys and then the later Anglo-Norman settlers, the FitzGeralds. Munster's native supremacy was gone forever. Desmond's name has spread to all English-speaking countries and is currently experiencing something of a renaissance.
Popularity
Desmond rarely appeared on the naming charts for American boys in the early part of the 20th century. However, by the 1960s, the name finally took hold. Usage of the name increased by an average of 300 chart positions per decade in the 1960s and '70s, and then seemed to level off in the 1980s. There was one exception: Desmond's name saw a big jump in just one year (1985). This was just after Cape Town Desmond Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize for his tireless work against apartheid and oppression in South Africa. By the 1990s, Desmond began to slide down the naming charts again - back to fairly low levels of usage. However, since 2006, it seems as if Desmond is once again on the upswing. Hard to tell where the name is from here. Desmond is an interesting name; We were surprised to see that he had Irish roots. You don't think of Desmond when you think of Irish male names (like Sean, Seamus, Patrick, Malachi, Kevin or Brian for example). No, Desmond is more like the name Oscar - where you're like, "That's Irish??!" And did you know that the Beatles' song Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (1968) is about a couple named Desmond and Molly? Paul McCartney wrote the song about an expression he heard from a Nigerian conga-playing acquaintance of his: "ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, bro". Desmond is more like the name Oscar - where you're like, "That's Irish??!" And did you know that the Beatles' song Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (1968) is about a couple named Desmond and Molly? Paul McCartney wrote the song about an expression he heard from a Nigerian conga-playing acquaintance of his: "ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, bro". Desmond is more like the name Oscar - where you're like, "That's Irish??!" And did you know that the Beatles' song Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (1968) is about a couple named Desmond and Molly? Paul McCartney wrote the song about an expression he heard from a Nigerian conga-playing acquaintance of his: "ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, bro".
famous people named desmond
Desmond Tutu (Nobel Peace Prize Laureate)
Earl of Desmond (held aristocratic title in Ireland)
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i've enjoy the name. I beli've I have only see one or two other people with my name. Sure now with Lost more people aren't as surprised to hear the name but its still n't common. Born May of 1996 so I guess got it when it was still fresh *HIGH FIVE to the dude in 85* also that currently makes me 24 so I guess you could say that you now have met an adult with this name... haha =)
I like this name a lot, my name is Susie but I would love it to be Desmond
This was my father-in-law's name. He died of cancer in 2012, so we named our son Gavin Benn'tt after him! I wanted it as a first name, but my brother-in-law is Benn'tt Jr. and wanted to name his son Benn'tt III. can't take naming rights from him now can I❤️!❤️! I love my little Gavin Benn'tt!!
Well this is my name and people always ask if its said Caroline or Carolina. I and the rest of my family says it like this: Carolina, like the'state. No I havent meet anyone with this name, but I do love getting compeltes on it. But when my fellow classmates want to be smart they will make fun of my name. But I dont care because I love my name.
And here I thought my naming my son Desmond in 2007 was original. I think this is a lovely name, obviously. We are just now beginning to meet more Desmonds of his age, but i've yet to meet an adult by that name.
Tutankhamun's mother's name was Kiya. :)I came here looking how to pronounce it as I said "Kia" like the car, and my hubby said "Ki-yah", which I thought also was a very pretty pronunciation! The history books just don't tell you... :) I don't particularly know Ancient Egyptian dialect, either. Maybe they said it differently❤️ Anyway, love the name!
We are naming our baby boy due in May Xander and a lot of the "older" folk in my family hate the name, but they wanted to name him Floyd or Wayne, which I despise. I think Xander is a great name and you can name you kid anything, saying Xander is a nickname and not a real name is like saying Aprilor June or August is a month not a name. We wanted something unique and uncommon, and there we have it! Comparing Xander to Elmer... is just silly and a horrible comparison as Xander is not trendy, and who cares❤️ Your kid Isn't going to change his name in 40 years because It's "outdated" he's going to love it because it meant something when he was named.
The name "gage" is extremely uncommon. We named our son Gage because it was uncommon. We also saw it in "Pet Cemetary" but that did not deter us. Our Gage is a 27 year old sergeant in the Marines. Before that he was an aspiring ballet dancer. Most people close to him call him "Gager"
my names desmon and i love it! plus i got in back in 85 when it was still fresh
Desmond means "young" and the one Desmond i've known was just that. I dated him for a few years and n'ticed that, no matter the experience he gained, his mentality remained youthful. While It's appreciated at times, it can also become a hazard.