Total births
2,347
Unisex name · since 1948
Desi
Desi has 2,347 recorded births since 1948 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1970 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #3177
- among boys today
- 2,347
- born since 1948
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 78%
- more common than other boys
Desi currently ranks #3177 among unisex names in America, with 2,347 babies recorded since 1948.
Social Security Administration records show Desi recorded 2,347 times among boys since 1948, holding rank #3177 nationally today, ahead of 78% of boys, peaking in the 1970s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1948 to 2025.
- #3177 among boys today
- 2,347 born since 1948
- 1970s peak decade
- 78% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Desi is currently the #3177 unisex name in America, more common than 78% of boys - 2,347 born since 1948, peaking in the 1970s.
- #3177
- among boys today
- 2,347
- born since 1948
- 1970s
- peak decade
- 78%
- more common than other boys
Desi vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#3177
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 78% of names given to boys today.
1970s
Peak decade
23% of everyone ever named Desi was born in this single decade.
1970
Single peak year
68 babies were named Desi in 1970 - its busiest year on record.
How Desi compares
2,347 Top 19% higher than 81% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Desi's all-time total is 6x the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Desi | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 2,347 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 68 | 23 | 22,252 |
Desi's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Desi splits its recorded history at 1988: 40% of all births land in the more recent half, 60% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1948 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1970 peak of 68 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Desi at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1970
Current rank
#3,177
Active since
1948
Desi popularity over time - boys
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1948–2025
- Peak year (1970)
- 68
- Annual births at peak, across 78 years of records
Desi popularity over time - girls
1,048 total births recorded since 1949 (Desi as girls' name)
Desi by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1970s was Desi's strongest decade.
537 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 23% of all-time use.
Desi births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1940s 5
1940s
5 births
- 1950s
1950s
312 births
- 1960s
1960s
298 births
- 1970s
1970s
537 births
- 1980s
1980s
300 births
- 1990s
1990s
264 births
- 2000s
2000s
241 births
- 2010s
2010s
215 births
- 2020s 175
2020s
175 births
What this shows Peak: 1970s at 537 births (23% of all-time use).
How Desi compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Desi's total volume
Desi vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Desi by state
Where Desi concentrates geographically, total births since 1948
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 259 | 11.0% |
| #2 | Texas | | 123 | 5.2% |
| #3 | Florida | | 47 | 2.0% |
| #4 | New York | | 36 | 1.5% |
| #5 | Alabama | | 23 | 1.0% |
| #6 | Georgia | | 23 | 1.0% |
| #7 | North Carolina | | 22 | 0.9% |
| #8 | Illinois | | 16 | 0.7% |
California share of Desi's total US births 11.0%
Even split
259 of 2,347 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 14 reporting states.
Desi appears in 14 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Desi? ▼
Desi has been given to 2,347 babies in the U.S. since 1948, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #3177 as of the latest data. 68 babies were born in 1970, its single highest year.
When was Desi most popular? ▼
Desi was most popular in the 1970s decade with 537 total births. The single peak year was 1970.
Where is Desi most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Desi are California (259 births), Texas (123 births), Florida (47 births).
Is Desi a unisex name? ▼
Yes, Desi is used for both boys and girls. As a boy's name it has 2,347 births, and as a girl's name it has 1,048 births.
How long has the name Desi been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Desi since 1948 -- 78 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Desi? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Desmond, Deshawn, Destin, Deshaun, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Desi's data
- Desi's decade-level peak was the 1970s (537 total births); usage has since declined to 175 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Desis (259 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Desi
Nearby Names Like Desi
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Desi
Desmond Boy
#368 40,031 births
Deshawn Boy
#1435 16,074 births
Destin Boy
#1677 6,124 births
Deshaun Boy
#3120 5,718 births
Desean Boy
#4749 4,031 births
Compare Desi side by side: Desi vs Desmond Desi vs Deshawn Desi vs Destin
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Desi
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1948–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Desi: #3177 Unisex Name - 2,347 Births, Peak 1970." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/desi. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Desi draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.