Desiderius

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Desiderius

Gender: Masculine
Language: Latin
Etymology:
Desiderius is a Latin name coming from “desiderium” meaning “Longing” with the connotations of “Longing for Christ.”

History:
The Latin name Desiderius was fairly popular among early Christians, but later declined. The exception was in France, where the French form, Didier, had some currency). This is thanks to the numerous French saints known as Desiderius, or Didier.

Desiderius, in its various forms, was occasionally found among Catholic populations.

Pronunciation: des-eh-der-att-us.

Alternates: Desidarius, Desier.
French: Didier.
Hungarian: Dezsö.
Italian: Desiderio.
Polish: Dezydery.
Portuguese: Desiderio.
Spanish: Desiderio.

Feminine: Desideria.

See also: Desideratus.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Desiderio da Settignano (1430-1464)
Italian sculptor.
Dezso Kosztolanyi (1885-1936)
Hungarian writer.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536)
Dutch scholar.

Miscellaneous:
Didier Auriol (1958-)
French race car driver.

Political Figures:
Didier Ratsiraka (1936-)
President of Madagascar.

Religious Figures:
St. Desiderius (Didier, Dizier) of Langres (-407)
Bishop of Langres, France.
St. Desiderius (Didier) of Vienne (-608)
Bishop of Vienne, France. Martyred by Queen Brunhildis.
St. Desiderius of Auxerre (-625)
Bishop of Auxerre, France.
St. Desiderius (Didier) of Cahors (-655)
Bishop of Cahors, France.
St. Desiderius (-705)
French hermit.

Royalty:
Didier (Desidarius) (8th century)
A king of the Lombards mentioned in legends of Charlemagne.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
less than 0.004 % named Desideratus, etc.

Popularity of Desideratus:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1880-2004: N/A

Popularity of Didier:
Popularity (for newborns):
In France...
1910: N/A
1910: 196th most popular.
1920: 192nd most popular.
1930: 116th most popular.
1940: 100th most popular.
1950: 33rd most popular.
1960: 10th most popular.
1970: 17th most popular.
1980: 95th most popular.
1990: N/A

Selected Sources:
A Dictionary of First Names, Hanks and Hodges, 1990
The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, Withycombe, 1977, 3rd ed.

The Academy of St. Gabriel (www.s-gabriel.org) - For information on medieval names.

The Social Security Administration Actuarial Note 139 (www.ssa.gov) - For popularity stats 1880-Present
The 1880 U.S. Census- For popularity stats 1850-1880, and other information (it is available on-line at www.familysearch.org)

Meilleurs Prenoms (http://www.meilleursprenoms.com) for French stats.