Desmond
Boy name · 146 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Desmond: 146 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 23 births in 1975.
Of Irish origin, Desmond comes from the Gaelic *Deas-Mhumhain*, meaning “south Munster” – a reference to the medieval kingdom of Desmond in southwestern Ireland. The name is best known globally through Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning anti-apartheid activist, and Desmond Morris, the zoologist who wrote *The Naked Ape*. A more cinematic bearer was Desmond Llewelyn, who played Q in the James Bond films. The historic region of Desmond lends its name to the modern Irish county of County Cork, though the given name is also used in Scotland. A notable variant is the Scottish surname Desmond, while in popular culture, the character Desmond Hume from the television series *Lost* gave the name a fresh, enduring appeal.
Boy 19 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 197523 babies
- Latest (2018)
- #7043 babies
- Total births
- 146since 1974
- 5-year trend
- ▼ 33%vs prior 5y