Desta
Meaningjoy · Amharic
- US rank
- #12,008
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #12,008 in 2025
5 babies were named Desta in the US in 2025.
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1900–2025
US births per million boys, 2025–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Desta you might not know, from US birth records. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
- How commonAbout 1 in every 344,828 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Desta, 5 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Desta would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryDesta first shows up in US birth records in 1900, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 125 years since.
- Best yearDesta is at its all-time high right now: #12,008 in 2025.
- New on the sceneDesta wasn't given to enough babies to be counted in 2000. It only took off after 2025.
- MeaningIn Amharic, Desta means “joy”. Our records link it to Ethiopian and French roots.
- OriginDesta is the #4 most popular Ethiopian boy name in the US. That's out of 16 Ethiopian boy and unisex names in our list.
About the name Desta
Desta is a boy name of Ethiopian and French origin meaning “joy”. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with D and ending in “-sta”. US birth records list Desta for boys only in 2025, the one year at least 5 babies got it. Its best year was 2025, when it ranked #12,008 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #12,008, with 5 babies.
Origin:Ethiopian namesFrench names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1900s | 4.4 | 228,311 girls |
| 1910s | 0.6 | 1,612,903 girls |
| 1920s | 1.1 | 917,431 girls |
| 1930s | 0.5 | 2,222,222 girls |
| 1940s | 0.8 | 1,298,701 girls |
| 1950s | 1.2 | 826,446 girls |
| 1960s | 2.5 | 400,000 girls |
| 1970s | 4.4 | 225,225 girls |
| 1980s | 3.5 | 286,533 girls |
| 1990s | 3.3 | 303,951 girls |
| 2000s | 1.4 | 709,220 girls |
| 2010s | 2.8 | 362,319 girls |
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 2.9 | 344,828 boys |
More Ethiopian boy names
- Boy name: Dawit · beloved
- Boy name: Yonas · dove
- Unisex name: Lou
- Boy name: Semere
Questions about the name Desta
What does the name Desta mean?
Desta means “joy” in Amharic.
What is the origin of the name Desta?
Desta has Ethiopian, French roots in our records. Other Ethiopian names include Dawit, Yonas, Lou.
Is Desta a boy or girl name?
Desta is a boy name.
How popular is the name Desta?
Desta ranked #12,008 for US boys in 2025, given to 5 babies. Its best year was 2025 (#12,008).