Desiderio is a rare and distinctive given name of Italian origin, meaning 'desirous' or 'longed for'. It is derived from the Latin word 'desiderare', which combines 'de' meaning 'of' and 'sidus' meaning 'star'. This unusual name has been historically used more frequently in Italy but can be found elsewhere as well. It is often associated with the Catholic Saint Desiderius, who was a bishop in France during the 7th century.
The name Desiderio experienced fluctuations in popularity over the past century. It peaked in the mid-20th century, with a high of 14 births recorded in 1979. However, it has seen a steady decline since then, with only 8 births recorded in 2022 and 12 births in 2023. Overall, there were 629 babies named Desiderio between 1910 and 2023.