Dalida, born Iolanda Cristina Gigliotti on March 17, 1933, was an Italian-Egyptian singer and actress who gained international fame during the mid-20th century. Known for her powerful vocals and stage presence, she was a pioneer of world music, popularizing Egyptian songs in Europe and French pop music worldwide.
Dalida began her career as a model before turning to singing. She moved to Paris in 1954 and signed with Barclay Records under the pseudonym "Zabó". Her first significant success came with "Bambino", released in 1956, which topped the charts in France. She went on to release numerous hit songs, including "Gondolier", "Maman" (which she sung in five languages), and "Les Filles de LemonTree", many of which became standards in French pop music.
Dalida's career spanned over three decades during which she acted in several films such as "Le Chanteur de Mexico" and "Le Sixième Jour". She recorded songs in multiple languages, including Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Greek, Hebrew, and English. Her international fame earned her the title of "the Queen of French song".
Throughout her career, Dalida faced numerous challenges, including personal tragedies that affected her deeply. Despite these struggles, she remained a prominent figure in European music until her untimely death by suicide on May 3, 1987.
Dalida's legacy continues to inspire musicians today. She was inducted into the French Song Academy in 1997 and has received multiple posthumous awards, cementing her status as an icon of international pop music.
The name Dalida experienced a significant increase in popularity between 2017 and 2019, with a jump from 21 to 18 births respectively, before stabilizing around 12 births per year since then. Overall, there have been 122 babies named Dalida born between 2014 and 2023 inclusive.