Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Diana
GirlLatin· “divine”
- Meaning
- divine
- Origin
- Latin
- Pronunciation
- dy-AN-uh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #244
- US babies 2025
- 1,277
- Best rank
- #42 (1946)
- Peak year
- 1957
Meaning and origin of Diana
Diana is a Latin name that means “divine”.
Diana was the Roman goddess of the hunt, the moon and wild places, identified with the Greek Artemis. Her name is thought to come from an old root meaning divine or heavenly, related to the Latin divus. After the Renaissance the name was used by English speakers, and it gained worldwide recognition through Diana, Princess of Wales, who was admired for her humanitarian work. Diana feels classic and graceful, with a quiet strength that suits every age. Di is a short form, and related names include the French Diane and the Italian Diana.
Other spellings with the same sound: Dianna, Dyana.
Popularity over time
Diana has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 145 different years. Its best national rank was #42 in 1946, and the most babies received it in 1957, when 9,433 were named Diana. In 2025, 1,277 babies were named Diana, and it ranked #244 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #443 in 1920, #47 in 1950, #118 in 1980, #106 in 2000, #190 in 2010, and #244 in 2025. Of the 368,487 US girls named Diana since records began, 22% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1960s come next, with 65,037 babies. Since 2010, 21,182 more have been named Diana.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Ann, Peggy, Darlene, Cathy, and Lynn.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Diana ranked highest in California, Virginia, and South Carolina.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| California | #143 | 212 |
| Virginia | #173 | 47 |
| South Carolina | #180 | 26 |
| Connecticut | #180 | 18 |
| Nevada | #183 | 14 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Diana is usually pronounced dy-AN-uh, with three syllables. It has five letters, starts with D and ends in “-na”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Dianna and Dyana.
Middle names for Diana
A few middle names that flow with Diana: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Diana
Similar names
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krihs-TEE-nuh
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kuh-MIH-luh
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Lists that include Diana
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Diana mean?
Diana is a Latin name that means “divine”.
What is the origin of the name Diana?
Diana has Latin roots. Diana was the Roman goddess of the hunt, the moon and wild places, identified with the Greek Artemis.
Is Diana a popular name?
Yes. Diana ranked #244 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Diana a boy or girl name?
Diana is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Diana?
Diana is usually pronounced dy-AN-uh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings