Baby Girl & Boy Names That Mean Desire

Desire is often the beginning of every journey. Before a dream is achieved, a goal is reached, or a love story begins, there is usually a strong want pulling someone forward. That restless and powerful feeling is what comes to my mind when I think about desire-inspired names.

I like this theme because it feels alive. These names carry longing, passion, ambition, attraction, and the determination to chase something that matters. The emotion feels intense, hopeful, and deeply human.

In the list below, you will find baby girl and boy names inspired by desire, longing, passion, aspiration, and the pursuit of something deeply wanted. Some sound romantic and elegant, while others feel bold, driven, and full of purpose.

Table of Contents

Boy Names That Mean Desire

Aiden

Origin: Irish/Gaelic
Meaning: Fiery desire, little fire
Description: A popular name in English-speaking countries, Aiden carries a meaning tied to burning desire and passion.

Caius

Origin: Latin
Meaning: To desire, to rejoice
Description: An ancient Roman name used by several emperors, with a root meaning deeply connected to desire and wanting.

Desiderio

Origin: Italian/Spanish
Meaning: Desire, longing
Description: A classic Romance language name derived directly from the Latin desiderium, meaning desire.

Desidério

Origin: Portuguese
Meaning: Desire
Description: The Portuguese variant of Desiderio, used across Brazil and Portugal with the same direct meaning.

Dezi

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Desire
Description: A short, modern form of Desiderio or Desiderata, carrying the same root meaning of desire.

Didier

Origin: French
Meaning: Desire, longing
Description: A common French masculine name derived from Latin Desiderius, meaning one who desires.

Desiderius

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Desire, longing
Description: The classical Latin form from which many European names derive; used by saints and scholars in medieval Europe.

Eros

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Desire, love, longing
Description: The Greek god of love and desire; his name directly means erotic desire and passionate longing.

Eiran

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Desire, awakening
Description: A Hebrew name with the sense of waking desire or aroused longing, used in modern Israeli naming.

Himeru

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: To desire, to crave
Description: A rare Japanese masculine name drawn from the verb himeru, reflecting deep personal desire.

Ikaika

Origin: Hawaiian
Meaning: Strong desire, strength of will
Description: A Hawaiian name that blends the concept of strength with passionate desire and determination.

Kama

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Desire, love, longing
Description: Kama is the Hindu god of desire and love; the name itself directly translates to desire in Sanskrit.

Kamadeva

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: God of desire
Description: A compound of kama (desire) and deva (god), representing the divine personification of longing.

Manjot

Origin: Punjabi/Sanskrit
Meaning: Desire of the heart
Description: A Sikh name combining man (heart/mind) and jot (light/desire), expressing deep heartfelt longing.

Murad

Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Desire, wish, intention
Description: Widely used across the Arab world and South Asia, Murad is a direct Arabic word for desire or wish.

Noel

Origin: French/Latin
Meaning: Desire, longing (from Latin natalis linked to desired birth)
Description: Beyond its Christmas association, the Latin root carries a sense of deeply desired arrival or birth.

Reza

Origin: Arabic/Persian
Meaning: Desire, contentment, wish
Description: Common in Iran and among Shia Muslims, Reza means both desire and divine satisfaction.

Talab

Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Desire, demand, longing
Description: An Arabic name that literally means desire or seeking, used across the Arab world.

Vehement

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Burning desire
Description: Derived from Latin roots meaning violent or burning desire; used historically as a given name.

Yusra

Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Desired ease, longing for comfort
Description: An Arabic masculine name expressing the desire for ease and prosperity in life.

Zelophehad

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: First desire, shadow of desire
Description: A biblical Hebrew name whose root is interpreted by scholars to mean first desire or shadow of longing.

Zelos

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Desire, zeal, jealous longing
Description: In Greek mythology, Zelos was the spirit of desire, zeal, and jealousy — a direct personification of longing.

Girl Names That Mean Desire

Aaliya

Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Desired, exalted one
Description: A feminine Arabic name expressing that which is greatly desired and held in high esteem.

Ardita

Origin: Albanian
Meaning: Desire, brave longing
Description: An Albanian feminine name combining desire with bravery, used widely in Kosovo and Albania.

Aziz

Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Desired, precious, beloved
Description: While used for both genders, as a feminine name it carries the meaning of something deeply desired and precious.

Calida

Origin: Latin/Spanish
Meaning: Warm desire
Description: Derived from Latin calidus (warm), used in Spanish-speaking cultures to express warm, glowing desire.

Crave

Origin: Old English
Meaning: Deep desire
Description: Historically used as a given name in Old English, directly rooted in the meaning of craving or deep desire.

Desideria

Origin: Latin/Spanish
Meaning: Desire, longing
Description: The feminine form of Desiderius; borne by the Queen of Sweden in the 19th century.

Désirée

Origin: French
Meaning: Desired, much-longed-for
Description: A classic French name meaning the desired one; given to children who were deeply wished for.

Desi

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Desire, desired one
Description: A short, sweet feminine form of Desideria or Désirée, carrying the same meaning of desire.

Epithumia

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Desire, longing, craving
Description: From the Greek epithumia, meaning passionate desire or deep craving; used in early Christian texts.

Eshq

Origin: Arabic/Persian
Meaning: Intense desire, passionate love
Description: A Persian and Arabic feminine name that means the most passionate and consuming form of desire.

Hedva

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: Desire, joy
Description: A Hebrew feminine name combining the meanings of joyful desire and yearning contentment.

Himari

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Desire, light of the sun
Description: A popular Japanese girl’s name whose kanji can be written to mean desire or longing alongside warmth.

Iolanthe

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Desire for violet flowers
Description: A poetic Greek name meaning desire for the violet flower, symbolizing deep and delicate longing.

Kamila

Origin: Arabic/Sanskrit
Meaning: Desired, perfect
Description: Rooted in kama (desire), Kamila means the one who is desired or perfect across Arabic and South Asian cultures.

Muna

Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Desire, wish, hope
Description: A gentle Arabic feminine name that directly means desire or heartfelt wish.

Munia

Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Desire, longing
Description: A variant of Muna with the same root meaning of desire and wishing, used widely in North Africa.

Nadia

Origin: Slavic/Arabic
Meaning: Hope, desire
Description: In Arabic roots, Nadia carries meanings tied to desire and hope; widely used across Eastern Europe and the Arab world.

Rezia

Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Desired, contentment
Description: A feminine form of Reza, meaning desired satisfaction or the fulfillment of longing.

Tamanna

Origin: Arabic/Urdu
Meaning: Desire, wish, aspiration
Description: Extremely popular in South Asia, Tamanna directly means desire or heartfelt wish in both Arabic and Urdu.

Tessneem

Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Desired spring water from paradise
Description: An Arabic feminine name referencing Tasnim, the desired heavenly spring mentioned in the Quran.

Vashti

Origin: Hebrew/Persian
Meaning: Desired, beautiful desire
Description: A biblical name from the Book of Esther, interpreted to mean beautiful or that which is desired.

Yuriko

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Desired child, lily child
Description: A classic Japanese feminine name where the kanji for desire is often combined with ko (child).

Unisex Names That Mean Desire

Arzu

Origin: Turkish/Persian
Meaning: Desire, wish, longing
Description: A common unisex name in Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Persian-speaking regions, meaning pure desire or wish.

Desi

Origin: Latin
Meaning: Desire
Description: A short unisex form of Desiderio or Desideria, used across English, Spanish, and Latin cultures.

Eros

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Desire, passionate love
Description: Though traditionally masculine in mythology, Eros is now used as a unisex name representing desire and longing.

Eshgh

Origin: Persian
Meaning: Desire, love, deep longing
Description: A unisex Persian name meaning intense love and desire; used poetically in Persian literature.

Hawa

Origin: Arabic/Hebrew
Meaning: Desire, longing, Eve
Description: Used for both boys and girls in parts of Africa and the Arab world, Hawa carries meanings of desire and breath of life.

Himeru

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: To desire
Description: A rare unisex Japanese name drawn from the verb for desiring or craving, used in modern Japanese naming.

Kama

Origin: Sanskrit
Meaning: Desire, love
Description: In Sanskrit tradition, Kama is used for both genders, representing the universal human experience of desire.

Murad

Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Desire, wish
Description: Used as a unisex name in some cultures, Murad directly means desire or intended wish.

Muna

Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Desire, hope
Description: A soft unisex Arabic name meaning desire; more common for girls but used for boys in East Africa.

Nour

Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Light of desire, longing light
Description: A widely used unisex Arab name; when paired with desire-root names, Nour expresses the light of longing.

Reza

Origin: Arabic/Persian
Meaning: Desire, contentment
Description: Common as a unisex name in Iran and among Muslims worldwide, meaning desired contentment or fulfillment.

Tamam

Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Desired completion, longing to be whole
Description: A unisex Arabic name meaning desired completeness or the fulfillment of a heartfelt longing.

Talab

Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Desire, demand, seeking
Description: Used across Arab cultures for both genders, Talab means desire or active seeking and longing.

Velu

Origin: Tamil
Meaning: Desire, wish, spear of longing
Description: A South Indian unisex name tied to the Tamil word for desire and aspiration.

Wishta

Origin: Pashto
Meaning: Desire, wish
Description: A Pashto unisex name used in Afghanistan and Pakistan, directly meaning desire or wish.

Zelophehad

Origin: Hebrew
Meaning: First desire
Description: A biblical name occasionally used as a unisex name; scholars interpret its root to mean first desire or shadow of longing.

Zelos

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Desire, zeal
Description: The Greek spirit of desire and zeal; used as a unisex name in modern Greek-influenced naming traditions.

Arzuhan

Origin: Turkish
Meaning: Soul of desire
Description: A Turkish unisex compound name meaning the soul or essence of desire, combining arzu (desire) with han (soul/ruler).

Ishtiyaq

Origin: Arabic/Urdu
Meaning: Longing, intense desire
Description: A unisex name used in South Asia and the Arab world, meaning overwhelming desire or deep longing.

Shawq

Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Desire, yearning, longing
Description: A direct Arabic word for desire and passionate yearning, used as a given name for both boys and girls.

Japanese Names That Mean Desire

Himari

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Desire, sunlight
Description: A popular girl’s name written with kanji meaning desire (hima) combined with warmth.

Himeru

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: To desire, to crave
Description: Derived from the Japanese verb himeru, meaning to keep or desire; used as a rare given name.

Nozomi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Desire, wish, hope
Description: One of the most direct Japanese names meaning desire; written with the kanji 望 (nozomi), it means wish or desire.

Nozomiko

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Child of desire
Description: A compound of nozomi (desire) and ko (child), meaning the desired child or child of longing.

Hoshiko

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Star child, desired child
Description: Written with kanji that can express desire for something as bright and longed-for as a star.

Kibou

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Desire, hope, wish
Description: The Japanese word for hope and desire (kibou, 希望) used as a given name expressing deep longing and aspiration.

Negai

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Wish, desire, prayer
Description: From the Japanese negai (願い), meaning desire or heartfelt wish; used as a poetic given name.

Motomeru

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: To desire, to seek
Description: From the verb motomeru (求める), meaning to desire or seek; used as a rare masculine given name.

Hoshii

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Desire, want
Description: Derived from the Japanese adjective hoshii (欲しい), meaning I want or I desire; used poetically as a name.

Yokubou

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Desire, ambition, craving
Description: The Japanese word yokubou (欲望) means desire or craving; occasionally used as a masculine name in literary contexts.

Ren

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Desire, love, lotus
Description: When written with the kanji 恋, Ren means romantic desire or longing; a popular unisex Japanese name.

Renka

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Song of desire
Description: A feminine Japanese name combining ren (desire/love) with ka (song or flower), meaning song of longing.

Ai

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Desire, love, affection
Description: When written with the kanji 愛 or 哀, Ai carries meanings tied to desire, love, and deep emotional longing.

Yoku

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Desire, want, greed
Description: From the kanji 欲 (yoku), meaning desire or wanting; used as a strong and rare given name.

Manami

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Desire of love, beautiful affection
Description: A feminine name where ma can be written with kanji meaning desire and nami means wave or beauty.

Mizuki

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Desired moon, beautiful moon
Description: A feminine Japanese name that, when written with desire-related kanji, expresses longing for the moon’s beauty.

Ichiko

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Desired child, first child
Description: A feminine name where ichi can be written with kanji meaning desired or longed-for, combined with ko (child).

Kanako

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Child of desire and music
Description: A Japanese feminine name where kana can be written with kanji expressing desire and ko means child.

Setsuna

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Moment of desire, fleeting longing
Description: From setsuna (刹那), meaning a fleeting moment; used in poetry to express intense, brief desire or longing.

Taiyou

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Desired sun, great longing
Description: Written with kanji that can express great desire alongside the meaning of the sun, used as a masculine name.

Last Names That Mean Desire

Desideri

Origin: Italian
Meaning: Desires, longings
Description: An Italian surname derived directly from desiderio (desire), carried by families across central Italy.

Desiderato

Origin: Italian
Meaning: Desired one
Description: An Italian surname meaning the desired or longed-for one, historically given to children born after long waiting.

Arzuaga

Origin: Basque
Meaning: Place of desire
Description: A Basque surname derived from arzu (desire) combined with a locative suffix, meaning place of longing.

Kama

Origin: Sanskrit/Indian
Meaning: Desire
Description: Used as both a given name and surname across India, directly rooted in the Sanskrit word for desire.

Muradi

Origin: Arabic/Persian
Meaning: Of desire, related to Murad
Description: A surname form of Murad, used across Iran, Afghanistan, and Central Asia, meaning one associated with desire or wish.

Wishkah

Origin: Native American (Chehalis)
Meaning: Stinking water / desire
Description: A Pacific Northwest surname and place name whose root carries the meaning of longing or desire in Chehalis tradition.

Tamanna

Origin: Arabic/Urdu
Meaning: Desire, wish
Description: Used as a surname in South Asia, Tamanna directly means desire and is found across Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh.

Rezaei

Origin: Persian
Meaning: Of desire, descendant of Reza
Description: A common Iranian surname derived from Reza (desire/contentment), one of the most widespread last names in Iran.

Ishtiyaqi

Origin: Arabic/Persian
Meaning: Of longing, of intense desire
Description: A surname form of ishtiyaq (longing), used in Iran and Afghanistan to denote a family of longing or yearning.

Nozomi

Origin: Japanese
Meaning: Desire, wish
Description: Used as both a given name and surname in Japan, written with the kanji 望 meaning desire or hope.

Arzu

Origin: Turkish/Persian
Meaning: Desire
Description: A surname used in Turkey and Azerbaijan, directly meaning desire or wish.

Shawqi

Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Of desire, of yearning
Description: Derived from shawq (desire/yearning), this is a well-known Arabic surname, famously borne by Egyptian poet Ahmad Shawqi.

Velu

Origin: Tamil
Meaning: Desire, aspiration
Description: A Tamil surname from South India and Sri Lanka, connected to desire and the god Murugan.

Kamaraj

Origin: Tamil/Sanskrit
Meaning: King of desire
Description: A Tamil surname meaning king of desire, combining kama (desire) with raj (king); famously borne by Indian politician K. Kamaraj.

Dilshad

Origin: Persian
Meaning: Heart’s desire, happy heart
Description: A Persian surname meaning the heart’s desire or one whose heart is filled with longing and happiness.

Muradov

Origin: Turkic/Central Asian
Meaning: Son of desire
Description: A common Turkic surname across Central Asia, derived from Murad (desire) with the patronymic suffix -ov.

Arzoumanian

Origin: Armenian
Meaning: Of desire, wish
Description: An Armenian surname derived from arzu (desire/wish), used by Armenian families across the diaspora.

Emeldi

Origin: Turkish
Meaning: Desired goal, ambition
Description: A Turkish surname derived from emel (desire, ambition, goal), meaning one associated with deep desire or aspiration.

Tamanni

Origin: Arabic
Meaning: Of desire, full of wishes
Description: An Arabic surname form of tamanna (desire), used across the Arab world and South Asia.

Kamdar

Origin: Persian/Gujarati
Meaning: Holder of desire, one full of longing
Description: A surname used in Gujarat and among Parsis, combining kama (desire) with dar (holder), meaning one who carries desire.

Greek Names That Mean Desire

Eros

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Desire, love, passionate longing
Description: The Greek god of love and desire; his name Eros (Ἔρως) is the foundational Greek word for desire.

Epithumia

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Desire, craving, longing
Description: From epithumia (ἐπιθυμία), the Greek word for desire or craving, used in philosophical and religious texts.

Erotes

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Desires, love spirits
Description: The plural of Eros, referring to the Greek spirits of desire; used as a given name in ancient Greece.

Himeros

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Desire, longing, yearning
Description: One of the Erotes in Greek mythology, Himeros (Ἵμερος) personifies immediate desire and longing.

Pothos

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Desire for the absent, longing
Description: A Greek spirit representing desire for something or someone absent; pothos (πόθος) means longing or yearning.

Anteros

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Returned desire, requited longing
Description: The Greek god of requited desire, Anteros (Ἀντέρως) means desire that is returned or answered.

Meraki

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Desire, soul, love put into work
Description: From the modern Greek meraki (μεράκι), meaning doing something with desire, love, and absolute devotion.

Zelos

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Desire, jealous longing, zeal
Description: The Greek personification of desire, zeal, and jealousy; zelos (ζῆλος) directly means desire or fervent longing.

Erasmia

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Desired, beloved, longed-for
Description: A Greek feminine name from erasmos (ἐράσμιος), meaning beloved or greatly desired.

Erasmos

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Desired, beloved
Description: The Greek masculine form meaning beloved or desired; the origin of the name Erasmus used across Europe.

Erathos

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Desire, love
Description: Derived from the Greek root erat- (desire/love), this rare name means one who is desired or full of desire.

Epipothia

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Intense desire, deep longing
Description: From epipothia (ἐπιποθία), meaning intense desire or deep longing; used in early Christian Greek texts as a name.

Orexis

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Desire, appetite, craving
Description: The Greek word orexis (ὄρεξις) means desire or appetite; used in Aristotelian philosophy and occasionally as a name.

Hedone

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Pleasure, desire, delight
Description: The Greek personification of pleasure and desire; hedone (ἡδονή) is the root of the English word hedonism.

Imerosa

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Full of desire, desirous
Description: A rare Greek feminine name derived from himeros (desire), meaning full of longing or very desirous.

Filomenos

Origin: Greek
Meaning: One who is desired, beloved
Description: Derived from philomenos (φιλόμενος), meaning the desired or beloved one; used in Greek Orthodox tradition.

Pothia

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Longing, desire for the absent
Description: A feminine Greek name from pothos (longing), meaning the one who longs or is full of yearning desire.

Agapos

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Desired love, longed-for
Description: Derived from agapo (I love/desire), Agapos means one who is desired with deep love and longing.

Erasmios

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Desired, lovable
Description: A Greek name meaning the one who is desired or lovable, rooted in eros and agape (love and desire).

Imerothea

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Desired by God, divine longing
Description: A compound Greek feminine name meaning divine desire or longing for God, combining himeros (desire) with thea (goddess/God).

German Names That Mean Desire

Sehnsucht

Origin: German
Meaning: Longing, desire, yearning
Description: The German concept of profound desire and longing; Sehnsucht is used as a rare poetic given name in German literature.

Wunsch

Origin: German
Meaning: Wish, desire
Description: The German word for wish or desire, used historically as a surname and occasionally as a given name.

Begehren

Origin: German
Meaning: Desire, craving, longing
Description: The German verb and noun for desire or craving; used in old German literature as a poetic given name.

Brunhilde

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Armored desire for battle
Description: From Old High German brun (armor) and hild (battle), combined with desire; a legendary Valkyrie name expressing fierce longing.

Gerlinde

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Desired spear, spear of longing
Description: From Old German ger (spear) and lind (soft), with roots tied to the desire for strength and battle glory.

Gertrude

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Desired strength, strength of the spear
Description: From ger (spear/desire) and trud (strength), meaning one who is desired for strength.

Hartwig

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Strong desire, hard will
Description: A German masculine name meaning strong desire or the one with a hard, determined will and longing.

Hildegard

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Desired battle guard, warrior of longing
Description: A classic German name from hild (battle) and gard (guard), expressing the desire to protect and stand firm.

Kunigunde

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Bold desire, brave longing
Description: From kuni (bold) and gund (desire for battle), this Old German name expresses courageous longing.

Lehnwillen

Origin: Old German
Meaning: Desire of the will, longing will
Description: A rare Old German compound name meaning the will’s desire or the longing of one’s innermost will.

Liebgard

Origin: German
Meaning: Desired love, guard of love
Description: A German feminine name combining lieb (love/dear) and gard (guard), expressing the desire to protect love.

Willa

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Desire, will, determination
Description: Derived from Old German willo (desire, will), Willa means one full of desire and strong personal will.

Wilma

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Desire and protection
Description: A short form of Wilhelmina, from willo (desire) and helm (protection), meaning one who desires to protect.

Wilhelm

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Desire for protection
Description: From willo (desire) and helm (helmet/protection), Wilhelm means the one whose desire is to protect and defend.

Willibald

Origin: Old German
Meaning: Bold desire, daring longing
Description: A medieval German name combining willo (desire) and bald (bold), meaning one with a bold and daring desire.

Willibert

Origin: Old German
Meaning: Bright desire
Description: From willo (desire) and beraht (bright/famous), meaning one whose desire shines brightly.

Willibrod

Origin: Old German
Meaning: Desire for glory
Description: A German saint’s name combining willo (desire) and hrod (glory/fame), meaning desire for renown.

Willimar

Origin: Old German
Meaning: Famous desire
Description: From willo (desire) and mari (famous), meaning one whose desire or will has become renowned.

Willitrud

Origin: Old German
Meaning: Desired strength
Description: A feminine Old German name combining willo (desire) and trud (strength), meaning desired or desirous of strength.

Winfried

Origin: Germanic
Meaning: Peaceful desire, desired peace
Description: From win (friend/desire) and frid (peace), meaning one who desires peace or is desired as a peaceful friend.