Diana
Diana: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /daɪˈænə/
Meaning and origin of Diana
Root meaning: “goddess”
- A female given name from Latin.
Etymology
Borrowed from Late Latin Diāna, short form of Latin Dīāna, derived by syncope from Old Latin Dīvāna, equivalent to dīvus + -āna; roughly akin to Proto-Italic *deiwā (“goddess”) + Proto-Indo-European *-néh₂. Originally an Old Italic divinity of light and the moon; later identified as the Roman counterpart to Greek goddess Artemis. Cognate of Attic Greek Διώνη (Diṓnē), similarly syncopated from older Ancient Greek Διϝωνη (Diwōnē), whence via Latin Diōne is derived English Dione used in various ways across astronomy, chemistry, biology, and as a given name. From the same root Proto-Indo-European *dyúh₃onh₂- also potentially cognate to English June via Latin Jūnō.
How popular is Diana?
Since 1880, 368,487 girls and 1,284 boys in the U.S. have been named Diana (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #42 in 1946. Its highest rank for boys was #1432 in 1962. In 2025 it ranked #244 for girls, with 1,277 babies given the name.
Names similar to Diana
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Latin girl names
Sibling name ideas for Diana
Sister and brother names that share Diana's Latin roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Diana FAQ
What does the name Diana mean?
Diana traces back to a root meaning "goddess". A female given name from Latin. Borrowed from Late Latin Diāna, short form of Latin Dīāna, derived by syncope from Old Latin Dīvāna, equivalent to dīvus + -āna; roughly akin to Proto-Italic *deiwā (“goddess”) + Proto-Indo-European *-néh₂. Originally an Old Italic divinity of light and the moon; later identified as the Roman counterpart to Greek goddess Artemis. Cognate of Attic Greek Διώνη (Diṓnē), similarly syncopated from older Ancient Greek Διϝωνη (Diwōnē), whence via Latin Diōne is derived English Dione used in various ways across astronomy, chemistry, biology, and as a given name. From the same root Proto-Indo-European *dyúh₃onh₂- also potentially cognate to English June via Latin Jūnō.
What is the origin of the name Diana?
Diana is listed as a name of Latin origin.
How popular is the name Diana?
Since 1880, 368,487 girls and 1,284 boys in the U.S. have been named Diana (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #42 in 1946. Its highest rank for boys was #1432 in 1962. In 2025 it ranked #244 for girls, with 1,277 babies given the name.
Is Diana a boy or girl name?
Diana is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 368,487 girls and 1,284 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.