Didier

Didier is a masculine given name of French origin. It derives from the Latin name Desiderius, meaning “desired” or “longed for.” The form Didier developed in medieval France and remains common in French-speaking populations. Related names include Désiré (French), Desiderio (Italian), and Desiderius (Latin).

In the modern era, Didier is most commonly encountered in France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Francophone Africa, and among immigrant communities. It is almost exclusively male; the feminine form Désirée is sometimes used to reflect the same root. The name is typically used as a given name rather than a surname.

Notable people named Didier include Didier Drogba, an Ivorian footballer noted for his time with Chelsea and the Ivory Coast national team; Didier Deschamps, a French football manager and former player who captained France to World Cup victory in 1998; Didier Burkhalter, a Swiss politician who served as President of the Confederation in 2014; Didier Ratsiraka, a Malagasy politician who led Madagascar as president for several terms.

In addition to individuals, Didier appears in religious and place-name contexts. Several saints named Didier (Desiderius) are recognized in Western Christianity, and there are French communes and churches named Saint-Didier.