Diana is a feminine given name of Latin and Greek origins, referring to the Roman goddess Diana, goddess of the hunt and the moon.
Historical development and transmission
The name derives from Latin Dīāna (sometimes appearing in older forms as Dīvāna or related to Jana). It is widely understood to mean “divine,” “goddesslike,” “heavenly,” or “shining.”
Diana has been used as a feminine given name since at least the Renaissance, when classical names revived in Europe.
It came into use in the Anglosphere in the 1600s by classically educated parents as an English-language version of the French version of the name, Diane.
Variants
Female Daiane Daiana Dayana Dianella Nella Nina Didi Dana Di Dee Dian
Male There are no traditional male variants of the name Diana , although there are some names that share the same sound, such as: Dion Dean Dylan Dana Dian Deric Derwin Dain
Unisex Dana Dion Dian
In other languages Catalan: Diana Croatian: Dijana Dutch: Diana, Diantha French: Diane German: Diana Hawaiian: Kiana English: Diana, Dianah, Dianna, Dyana, Dyanna, Deanna, Diane Hypochoristic: Di, Dee Indonesian: Diana Japanese: Daiana (ダイアナ), Diana (ディアナ) Latin: Diana Portuguese: Diana, Daiana/Dayana, Daiane/Dayane Romani: Daiena Romanian: Diana Russian: Диана (Diana) Serbian: Дијана (Dijana) Slovenian: Dijana Spanish: Diana Ukrainian: Діана (Diana)
Origin and diffusion Diana recalls the Greek and Roman goddess Diana. Diana translates to the Latin form Artemis. The name can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root *dyeu or *dyeus and *div- meaning "to shine" (diya-) or "sky", dius, deus and diwio, "deity, god, godlike" and "dium" meaning "universe". The meanings are therefore "heavenly", "holy", "divine", "demonic", "celestial", "cosmic", "nebulous", "chaotic", "abyssal", "void", "luminous", "shining", and in a broader sense "which brings the day", "which has light", "which has divine power", "which belongs to the void/abyss/chaos" and "which comes from the Universe/outer space". The word "Diamond", or "Diamante" in French, is also brought from the Proto-Indo-European word "diya-", which means "bright light".
Diana was already in use as a given name in ancient Rome, but exclusively outside Christian circles, in which it was seen as a pagan name. In Italy, the variant "Daiana", an adaptation based on the English pronunciation, is also common. The French variant "Diane" gained popularity during the 19th century.
People Diana, Princess of Wales, British humanitarian and member of the British royal family Diana (1948–2024), Brazilian singer
A Diana Abu-Jaber, American author and a professor at Portland State University Diana Adlienė (born 1954), Lithuanian medical physicist Diana Akiyama, American episcopal bishop and academic Diana Al-Hadid (born 1981), American contemporary artist Diana Álvares Pereira de Melo, 11th Duchess of Cadaval (born 1978), Portuguese noblewoman Diana Abgar (1859–1937), Armenian writer, humanitarian and diplomat Diana Abla (born 1995), Brazilian water polo player Diana Adams (1926–1993), American ballerina and ballet teacher Diana Adamyan (born 2000), Armenian violinist Diana Aga, Filipino-American chemist Diana Agrest, American architect and urban designer Dianna Agron (born 1986), American actress Diana Aguavil (born 1983), Ecuadorian indigenous leader Diana Akhmetova (born 1994), Russian weightlifter Diana Al Shaer (born 1987), Russian-born Palestinian dressage rider Diana Albers, American comic book letterer Diana Alfaro (born 2001), Peruvian footballer Diana Allen (1898–1949), American actress Diana Amft (born 1975), German film, television actress and children's writer Diana Anaid (born 1976), Australian alternative rock singer-songwriter Diana Anderson (born 1935), British nurse, midwife and civil servant Diana Anderson (scientist), British biomedical scientist Diana Andimba, Namibian model Diana Andringa (born 1947), Rwandan actress Diana Angwech, Ugandan lawyer Diana Ankudinova (born 2003), Russian singer Diana Arbenina (born 1974), Russian poet, singer, musician and leader of the rock group Nochnye Snaipery Diana Archangeli, American linguist Diana Arevalo (born 1981), American politician Diana Arismendi (born 1962), Venezuelan composer Diana Armfield (born 1920), British artist Diana Arno (born 1984), Estonian model Diana Arón (1950–1975), Chilean journalist Diana Arterian, American poet, writer, critic, editor, and translator Diana Ashton (born 1955), British swimmer Diana Athill (1917–2019), British literary editor, novelist and memoirist Diana Atkinson, Canadian writer Diana Atwine, medical doctor and civil servant Diana Aviv, South African American business executive Diana Avsaragova (born 1998), Russian mixed martial artist Diana Axinte (born 1996), Romanian handballer Diana Ayala (born 1973), American politician Diana Aydosova (born 1995), Kazakhstani racewalker
B Diana Bacosi (born 1983), Italian sport shooter Diana Baig (born 1995), Pakistani cricketer Diana Baldwin, American coal miner Diana Balmori (1932–2016), American landscape designer Diana Bang (born 1981), Canadian actress and writer Diana Barnato Walker (1918–2008), British aviator Diana Barrett, President and founder of the Fledgling Fund Diana Barrington (born 1939), British actress Diana Barrows (born 1966), American actress Diana Barry (born 1986), Scottish footballer Diana Barrymore (1921–1960), American actress Diana Basho (born 2000), Albanian swimmer Diana Baumrind (1927–2018), American clinical and developmental psychologist Diana Bautista, American neuroscientist Diana Beaumont (1909–1964), British actress Diana Beck (1900–1956), English neurosurgeon Diana Becton (born 1951), Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Belbiţă (born 1996), Romanian mixed martial artist, and former kickboxing, judo and kempo practitioner Diana Bellamy (1943–2001), American actress Diana Bellessi, Argentine poet Diana Bendz, American polymer scientist Diana Berg (born 1979), Ukrainian activist and graphic designer Diana van Berlo (born 1966), Dutch singer Diana Bernal (born 1963), Mexican jurist and politician
Diana Bianchi, American medical geneticist and neonatologist Diana Bishop (rower) (born 1947), British rower Diana Blank (born 1942), American philanthropist Diana Bliss (1954–2012), Australian theatre producer Diana Block, US author and former militant Diana Blok (born 1952), Uruguay-born Dutch photographer Diana Blumenfeld (1903–1961), mid 20th-century Polish actor and musician Diana Boddington (1921–2002), British stage manager Diana Bolocco (born 1977), Chilean journalist Diana Bong (born 1985), Malaysian wushu practitioner Diana Boulay (born 1946), Canadian artist Diana Bourbon (1900–1978), American writer and actress Diana Bovio (born 1989), Mexican actress Diana Box (born 1971), Spanish handball player Diana Bracho (born 1944), Mexican actress Diana Braithwaite, Canadian singer-songwriter Diana Dilova-Braynova (born 1952), Bulgarian basketball player Diana Brebner (1956–2001), Canadian poet Diana Brenes (born 1997), Costa Rican judoka Diana Bridge, New Zealand poet Diana Broce (born 1986), Panamanian model Diana Brunel (born 1981), French tennis player Diana Bryant (born 1947), Australian judge Diana Brydon, Canadian literary scholar Diana Budisavljević (1891–1978), Austrian humanitarian Diana Buist, American epidemiologist Diana Buitron-Oliver (1946–2002), American classical archaeologist and curator Diana Bulimar (born 1995), Romanian gymnast Diana Burgoyne, Canadian artist Diana Burrell (born 1948), English composer Diana Butler Bass, American historian Diana Buttu, Canadian-Palestinian lawyer
C Diana Cabrera (born 1984), Uruguayan-Canadian sports shooter Diana Caldwell (1913–1987), English society femme fatale figure Diana Canova (born 1953), American actress, director and professor Diana Capponi (1953–2014), Canadian mental health activist, psychiatric survivor and community leader Diana Carlin (born 1950), American academic Diana Carnero (1995–2024), Ecuadorian politician Diana Cavallo (1931–2017), American novelist, educator, playwright and performer Diana Chalá (born 1982), Ecuadorian judoka Diana Chan (born 1988), Malaysian-born Australian cook Diana Chang (1924–2009), American novelist and poet Diana Chapman Walsh, President of Wellesley College Diana Chelaru (born 1993), Romanian gymnast Diana Y. Chen (born 1984), Taiwanese figure skater Diana Chikotesha (born 1990/1991), Zambian football assistant referee Diana Choyleva, Bulgarian analyst and economist Diana Christova, Bulgarian sprint canoer Diana Churchill (1909–1963), daughter of Sir Winston Churchill Diana Churchill (actress) (1913–1994), English actress Diana Ciucă (born 2000), Romanian handball player Diana Clapham (born 1957), British equestrian Diana Coben, adult education academic Diana Coloma, Ecuadorian politician Diana Conti (1956–2024), Argentine lawyer and politician Diana Conyngham Ellis (1813–1851), Northern Irish botanical painter Diana Coole, British political theorist Diana Coomans (1861–1952), Belgian painter Diana Cooper (artist), American visual artist Diana Copperwhite, Irish painter Diana di Cordona, 16th-century Italian noblewoman Diana Coupland (1928–2006), British actress Diana Croce (born 1997), Venezuelan model and beauty pageant titleholder Diana Crossan, New Zealand public servant Diana Çuli (born 1951), Albanian writer, journalist and politician
D Diana Damrau (born 1971), German operatic soprano Diana Danielle (born 1991), American-born Malaysian actress and singer Diana Darrin (born 1933), American film actress and singer
Diana Davies (actress) (born 1936), English actress Diana Davies (athlete) (born 1961), British high jumper
Diana Davison, Australian racing driver Diana Dean (born 1942), Canadian artist Diana Decker (1925–2019), British American actress, singer and TV personality Diana DeGarmo (born 1987), American singer and Broadway actress Diana DeGette (born 1957), American politician Diana degli Andalò, 13th-century Italian Dominican nun and convent superior beatified by the Roman Catholic Church Diana Del Bufalo (born 1990), Italian actress, singer and TV presenter Diana DeMuth, American singer-songwriter Diana Dennis (born 1951), American bodybuilder Diána Detre (born 1983), Hungarian windsurfer Diana Deutsch (born 1938), British-American psychologist DiAna DiAna, American hairdresser and HIV/AIDS activist Diana Dierks (born 1944), American politician Diana Dimova (born 1984), Bulgarian badminton player Diana DiZoglio (born 1983), American politician Diana Doherty, Australian oboist Diana Doman (born 1998), Estonian-Azeri rhythmic gymnast Diana Dors (1931–1984), English actress Diana Douglas (1923–2015), American actress Diana Dowek (born 1942), Argentine artist Diana Dragutinović (born 1958), Serbian politician and economist Diana Dumitru (born 1973), Moldovan historian Diana Durães (born 1996), Portuguese swimmer Diana Durango (born 1988), Ecuadorian sport shooter Diana Dymchenko (born 1989), Ukrainian rower
E Diana L. Eck (born 1945), American theologian Diana Edulji (born 1956), Indian cricketer Diana Edwards-Jones (1932–2024), Welsh television director Diana Egerton-Warburton (born 1965), Australian medical professional Diana Elles, Baroness Elles (1921–2009), English barrister and United Nations representative Diana Enache (born 1987), Romanian female tennis player Diana Encinas (born 1968), Mexican figure skater Diana Eneje (born 2002), Nigerian model Diana Eng (born 1983), American fashion designer Diana Est (born 1963), Italian musical artist Diana Evangelista (born 1994), Mexican football player Diana Evans (born 1972), British novelist, journalist and critic Diana Ewing (born 1946), American actress
F