Everything about the name DIANE

Meaning, origin, history

Diane is a feminine given name of Latin origin, derived from the word "divus," which means "heavenly" or "godlike." It was popularized by the myth of Diana, the Roman goddess of the hunt and the moon.

The name Diane has been associated with various notable figures throughout history. One of the most famous is Diane de Poitiers, a French noblewoman who served as the chief mistress to King Henry II of France during the 16th century. She was known for her intelligence, beauty, and influence over the king's policies.

Another prominent figure bearing the name Diane is Diane von Fürstenberg, a Belgian-American fashion designer renowned for her iconic wrap dress. Born into a wealthy family with aristocratic roots, she launched her own fashion label in 1972 and has since become one of the most influential designers of the late 20th century.

The name Diane has also been popular among royalty throughout history. Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom had a daughter named Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, who was affectionately known by the nickname "Diane."

Despite its Latin origins, the name Diane has been widely adopted across different cultures and languages. In French-speaking countries, it remains a popular choice for girls' names. Meanwhile, in English-speaking nations such as the United States and Australia, Diane peaked in popularity during the mid-20th century before declining slightly in recent decades.

In literature and art, Diana/Diane has inspired numerous works throughout history. She appears prominently in works by authors like Ovid, Virgil, and Shakespeare. Additionally, many artists have depicted her image in paintings, sculptures, and other forms of visual arts.

Today, the name Diane continues to be associated with elegance, grace, and strength, reflecting its roots as a divine entity in Roman mythology. Parents who choose this name for their daughters often do so because they admire these qualities or wish to honor historical figures bearing the same name. Ultimately, whether used as a given name or simply an inspiring figure from history, Diane remains a timeless and meaningful choice.

Popularity of the name DIANE since 1880

Birth evolution

Popularity analysis

The name Diane has seen a varied trend in popularity over the years in the United States, with several peaks and valleys. In the early 1900s, there were fewer than 20 births each year with the name Diane. However, by the 1930s, this number began to increase significantly.

In 1932, there were 1439 births with the name Diane, which was a significant jump from previous years. This trend continued throughout the decade, with 1872 births in 1934 and 2197 in 1935. The 1930s saw the highest number of births for the name Diane until that point.

The popularity of the name Diane continued to grow in the following decades. In 1946, there were 15834 births with the name Diane, and this number reached a peak of 23292 in 1955. However, after the mid-1950s, the popularity of the name began to decline.

By the 1970s, the number of births with the name Diane had decreased significantly, with only 1689 births in 1976. This trend continued throughout the rest of the century and into the early 2000s, with fewer than 300 births each year.

In recent years, there has been a slight increase in popularity for the name Diane. In 2021, there were 107 births with the name Diane, which was higher than the previous few years but still lower than the peak decades of the mid-20th century.

Overall, while the name Diane has seen several periods of popularity over the years in the United States, it has generally become less common since its peak in the mid-1950s. Despite this decline, there is evidence that the name may be experiencing a slight resurgence in recent years.

Variations of the Name DIANE