The Meaning of the Name Désirée
Désirée is a French name that means “desired” or “longed for.” It is derived from the Latin word desiderare, which means “to desire.” The name has been popular in France since the 19th century and is now used in many other countries as well.
History of the Name
The name Désirée was first used in France during the 19th century. It was popularized by Napoleon Bonaparte, who named his adopted daughter Désirée Clary. She was born in 1777 and was the daughter of a silk merchant from Marseille. Napoleon fell in love with her and wanted to marry her, but she refused him and instead married his brother, General Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte.
The name Désirée became even more popular after it was used as the title of a novel by French author Alphonse de Lamartine in 1845. The novel tells the story of a young woman named Désirée who falls in love with a man from a higher social class than her own. The novel was very successful and helped to spread the popularity of the name throughout Europe.
Popularity
Today, Désirée is still a popular name in France and other French-speaking countries such as Belgium, Switzerland, and Canada. It is also becoming increasingly popular in English-speaking countries such as the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. In 2019, it ranked #1,837 on the Social Security Administration’s list of most popular baby names in the United States.
Famous People Named Désirée
There are several famous people who have been given the name Désirée:
- Désirée Clary – Napoleon Bonaparte’s adopted daughter
- Désirée Rogers – former White House Social Secretary under President Barack Obama
- Désirée Nosbusch – Luxembourgish actress and television presenter
- Désirée Linden – American marathon runner
