Same issue as this from 2017
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/sharepoint/en-US/0d740785-ec30-46dd-9ca3-6a9ddc532fca/li...
I have a description in my list that has some basic instructions but that description is not visible to anyone. This is using the Modern experience. It states in the settings that this description would assist site vistors so I'm thinking it should work like this.
Type a new name as you want it to appear in headings and links throughout the site. Type descriptive text that will help site visitors use this list.
