Desmond - boys name

Desmond name popularity, meaning and origin

Name Popularity: 59%

Desmond name meaning:

Desmond is a masculine given name of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name Deasmhumhain, which means "South Munster." Munster refers to one of the provinces in Ireland, and "Deas" means "south" in Irish. Therefore, Desmond can be interpreted to mean "from the south of Munster" or "one who hails from the southern region of Ireland."

Desmond has historical significance as it was the surname of the influential Fitzgerald family, Earls of Desmond, who were prominent in Irish history during the Middle Ages. The name became popular as a given name in the 20th century and gained more recognition due to its associations with notable individuals such as Bishop Desmond Tutu, a South African social rights activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

In summary, the name Desmond carries the meaning of a connection to the southern region of Munster in Ireland. It is a name that reflects Irish heritage and has been adopted by various individuals who have left a mark in different fields, giving it a sense of significance and prestige.

Origin: Celtic

Man of the world.

Other boys names beginning with D

Statistics

Overall UK ranking: 1984 out of 4789

11 recorded births last year

Change in rank

  • 10yrs

    55
  • 5yrs

    572
  • 1yr

    -159

    Regional popularity

    Ranking for this name in various UK regions

Historical popularity of Desmond

The graph below shows the popularity of the boys's name Desmond from all the UK baby name statistics available. It's a quick easy way to see the trend for Desmond in 2024