Diahann is of African origin, derived from Swahili 'Daya' meaning 'to give', and 'Anansi', a West African folk tale character known for his cleverness and trickery. This unique name gained popularity in the United States through the actress Diahann Carroll, who became the first black woman to star in her own television series in the 1960s.
The name Diahann experienced significant popularity and fluctuation throughout its recorded history of nearly four decades. It peaked during the late sixties to early seventies with a total of 24 births in 1968 and 50 births in 1969, indicating a surge in preference for this unique name around that time. However, by the mid-seventies and eighties, its usage had declined dramatically, with annual totals dropping to single digits or even less than five births per year from 1972 onwards. Overall, there were 354 recorded births of the name Diahann between 1948 and 1986.