Diana Overview
- Meaning: “Heavenly” or “divine”
- Origin: Greek, Latin
- Gender: Diana is a name that is most commonly given to a girl.
- Pronunciation: “DIE-anna” or “DEE-anna.”
- Popularity: In the United States, the name Diana is popular. It was in the top 250 names for girls in 2020, and over 1200 babies were given the name.
- Variations: Daiena, Deanna, Diane, Dijana, Dianah, Dianna, Dyana, Dyanna, Kiana.
- Nicknames: Ana, Di, Dee, Deedee, Nay Nay.
- Namesakes: Princess Diana of Wales, Diana Ross, Diana Vreeland.
What Does the Name Diana Mean?
The name “Diana” references the goddess of Ancient Rome. It means “to shine” and “sky.” It also is known to mean “deity,” “god,” “universe,” or “godlike” in proto-Indo European languages. Further meanings can refer to “luminous,”, “cosmic,” “heavenly,” “divine,” “celestial,” and “shining.”
But that’s not all of the meanings that the name Diana has. Those phrases can give form to phrases like “which has a divine power” or “which has a light,” and Still further, it can also be associated with the phrase “comes from the universe” (1).
What Is the Origin of the Name Diana?
Diana was the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess “Artemis.” She was the goddess of wild animals, hunting, vegetation, chastity, and childbirth in ancient Greece (2). Artemis was the daughter of Zeus, and her name dates back to pre-Grecian times.
The name was seen as pagan in Christian communities well into the 1800s, and some Christian denominations still do not accept it.
Interestingly, In Italy, the variant “Daiana” comes from how English speakers pronounce the name Diana.
How Popular Is the Name Diana?
In the United States, the name Diana has been in the top 300 for newborn girls since the 1930s. It was at its zenith in the 1940s and 1950s but remains popular. In 2021, Diana held on to the 225th spot for most chosen names. That equates to more than 1200 babies being born Diana, or 1 in every 1,400 newborns (3).
How Do I Pronounce Diana?
Diana is pronounced “DIE-anna.” However, in certain cultures, it would be equally as common to pronounce it “DEE-anna.”
Is Diana a Boy or Girl Name?
Diana is a name given to girls, with the closest equivalent for boys being “Daniel” or “Aidan.”
Variations of Diana
The name Diana is thousands of years old and has been adopted by numerous cultures. A few of its linguistic variants might even be familiar, such as:
- Daiena (Romani)
- Deanna (English)
- Diane (French)
- Dijana (Croatian)
- Dianah (English)
- Dianna (English)
- Dyana (English)
- Dyanna (English)
- Kiana (Hawaiian)
Nicknames for Diana
Diana has acquired plenty of nicknames over the year, like:
- Ana
- Di
- Dee
- Deedee
- Nay Nay
Similar Names to Diana
If Diana is close to the name you are looking for, or you want to compare it to others, you might want to consider:
- Andromeda
- Artemis
- Atalanta
- Athena
- Casandra
- Cassie
- Daphne
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Katie
- Margaret
Middle Names for Diana
Diana is not tricky to pair with a middle name, and many options can combine with it. Some fantastic candidates are:
- Ashley
- Clair
- Eileen
- Emily
- Joanne
- Joy
- Kristen
- Melissa
- Pilar
- Ruth
Sibling Names for Diana
If you already have a child named “Diana,” or are expecting twins, plenty of names sound great with it. Here are a range of ideas for both genders that can fit your family perfectly:
For a brother:
- Albert
- Alexander
- Camilla
- Emmett
- Eric
- Jack
- James
- Jamie
- Samuel
- Zayne
For a sister:
- Alexa
- Cora
- Debbie
- Janie
- Lucia
- Margaret
- Nancy
- Pearl
- Veronica
Famous People Named Diana
Diana has become popular not just by ancient lore, but by several high-profile celebrities and modern royalty too.
- Diana, Princess of Wales: A member of the British Royal family and a humanitarian.
- Diana Athill: An English editor, writer, and memoirist.
- Diana Nyad: American author, journalist, motivational personality, and athlete.
- Diana Ross: American singer and actress best known for her work in the 1960s group, “The Supremes.”
- Diana Vreeland: American editor in fashion for Harper’s Bazaar and editor-in-chief of Vogue.
- Diana Williams: American anchor and journalist.
- Diana Yukawa: Japanese-English violinist and musical composer.
Diana in Popular Culture
The name “Diana” is firmly established in popular culture, with a diverse collection of appearances that include:
- Diana: A character from the television miniseries “V” and “V: The Final Battle.”
- Diana: A character from the animated television series and manga book series “Sailor Moon.”
- Diana Bishop: A character from the television series “A Discovery of Witches.”
- Diana Burnwood: A character from the video game series “Hitman.”
- Diana Lombard: Lead character from the animated TV series “Martin Mystery.”
- Diana Prince: From DC Comics and films, the alter ego of the Amazonian warrior Wonder Woman.
- Diana the Acrobat: A character from the animated television series “Dungeons & Dragons.”
Diana FAQs
Diana is such a rich and varied name that you may still have questions about it. If that’s the case, read on to get the answers to some popular queries.
What Does Diana Mean Spiritually?
Diana has endless meanings. We have covered many of them in the first section, but a few others include “luminous,” “divine,” “fertile,” or “perfect.” This means that Diana will bring light and positivity to the lives of those around them.
Is Diana a Religious Name?
No, Diana is not a religious figure in Christianity, Judaism, or Islam. There is no biblical reference or significance to the name Diana either. However, it has become increasingly accepted and adopted by Christian households.
Before the 1800s, it was widely seen as a pagan name. To this day, it remains a sacred name in neo-paganism and its related religions.
