Desiree is of French origin, derived from the word 'désir,' which means 'desire.' It was traditionally given to girls born on New Year's Day, reflecting the hope and aspirations for the new year. In English-speaking countries, Desiree gained popularity in the late 19th century but has since become less common.
The name Desiree experienced notable popularity between the late 70s and mid-80s with peaks in 1978 (9 births), 1980-83 (8 to 10 births each year), and a significant high in 1986 (12 births). However, its usage has since declined, with fewer than 10 births per year after 1989, and only 5 births in the years 1995-96 and 2000. In total, there were 198 births named Desiree during this period.