UK girl's name
Desree
A French feminine name derived from the name Desiree, meaning desired or longed for.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 1999. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Desree is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Desree popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 1999 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3900, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1998, with 5 births.
This profile covers 11 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1996 to 1999. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 11 living people in the UK are called Desree. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2000 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Desree ranked #3900 for girls in England and Wales in 1999, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1998, when 5 girls were registered as Desree.
- • About 11 living people in the UK are estimated to have Desree as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3900
1999
Births in 1999
3
Latest year
Peak year
1998
5 births
Estimated living
11
2026
Meaning
What does Desree mean?
The name Desree is believed to have originated from the Old French language, with its roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the French word "désirée," which means "desired" or "longed for." This name was often given to daughters who were greatly anticipated or desired by their parents.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Desree can be found in the 14th-century French poem "Le Roman de la Rose," where a character named Desree is mentioned. This literary work played a significant role in popularizing the name throughout the French-speaking regions of Europe during that time.
In the 16th century, Desree gained popularity among the noble and aristocratic families of France. One notable bearer of this name was Desree de Montmorency (1538-1586), a French noblewoman who was a prominent figure at the court of King Henry III.
As the name spread across Europe, it also found its way into religious texts and records. In the 17th century, a nun named Desree de la Croix (1620-1678) was known for her charitable works and devotion to the Catholic Church in the city of Rouen, France.
During the 18th century, the name Desree crossed the English Channel and became popular in Britain. One of the earliest recorded instances of an English woman bearing this name was Desree Willoughby (1745-1812), a renowned artist and portraitist who painted many notable figures of her time.
In the 19th century, the name Desree gained popularity in the United States, particularly among French-American communities. A notable figure from this period was Desree Robillard (1829-1912), a pioneering educator and advocate for women's rights in Louisiana.
Throughout history, several other notable individuals have borne the name Desree, including:
1. Desree de Lusignan (1192-1248), a French noblewoman and Queen of Cyprus. 2. Desree de Clermont (1553-1624), a French courtier and lady-in-waiting to Queen Catherine de' Medici. 3. Desree Cartier (1675-1741), a French explorer and fur trader who established trading posts in the Great Lakes region of North America. 4. Desree Boulanger (1825-1900), a French composer and one of the first female conductors of her time. 5. Desree Richer (1909-1986), a Canadian artist and painter known for her landscapes and portraits of Indigenous peoples.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Desree over time
The chart below shows babies named Desree registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 1999. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Desree, the clearest high point is 1998. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 1999, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Desree by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Desree was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | #3465 | 11 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Desree
- Daisy 49,435
- Danielle 13,507
- Darcie 11,010
- Darcy 10,516
- Darcey 9,708
- Delilah 9,098
- Demi 9,052
- Daniella 4,324
- Destiny 3,732
- Diana 3,258
- Dorothy 3,104
- Dolly 2,246
FAQ
Desree: questions and answers
How popular is the name Desree in the UK right now?
In 1999, Desree was ranked #3900 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Desree most popular?
The peak year on record was 1998, with 5 babies registered as Desree in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Desree?
A French feminine name derived from the name Desiree, meaning desired or longed for.
How many people are called Desree in the UK?
A total of 11 babies have been registered as Desree across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.