Fun Facts About the Name Diana
- A favorite of earlier generations: Diana appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 5 separate runs, totaling 51 years. Its last run lasted 2 consecutive years, from 2004 through 2005.
- More than 369 thousand babies named Diana: U.S. records list 369,752 babies given the name Diana from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,285 boys received the name Diana - about 1 boy for every 287 girls.
What Does the Name Diana Mean?
Diana is a Latin name generally explained as meaning "divine" or "heavenly." It belonged to the Roman goddess of the hunt, the moon, and childbirth, and it comes from the same Latin word group as divus and diva, "god" and "goddess." Ancient Roman writers connected the name with dius and dies, "day," and some accounts trace it to an older form such as Diviana, "the divine one."
The deeper origin is disputed. A common explanation links the name to the reconstructed Indo-European root *dyew-, meaning "sky," "daylight," or "to shine," which also lies behind Latin deus ("god") and dies ("day"). Whether Diana descends directly from that root or was formed later within Latin from divus cannot be settled from the surviving evidence. The name's long-standing association is with divinity and light; "goddess of the moon" describes the deity Diana, not the literal meaning of the word.
Diana Name History & Origins
Diana was the name of an old Latin goddess worshipped in central Italy. Her principal sanctuary stood at Aricia, near Lake Nemi in the Alban Hills south of Rome, and she had a temple on the Aventine Hill in Rome that tradition attributes to King Servius Tullius. The Romans identified her with the Greek goddess Artemis, and through that identification Diana became associated with hunting, wild animals, and the moon.
The name passed into ordinary use in the Roman world and continued in Italy, Spain, and other regions of Roman influence. It was used as a Christian given name in medieval Italy and Spain; Blessed Diana d'Andalò (about 1200 - 1236), a Dominican nun, founded the Monastery of Saint Agnes in Bologna.
In English the name is known from the Renaissance onward. Diana appears as a character in Shakespeare's All's Well That Ends Well and Pericles, Prince of Tyre, and poets of the period often used her name as a byword for chastity, following the classical goddess. These literary appearances come long after the name's Roman and Continental use; they are not its origin.
The French form of the name, Diane, developed separately and was borne by Diane de Poitiers (1499 - 1566), mistress of King Henry II of France. The best-known modern bearer is Diana, Princess of Wales (1961 - 1997).
How Popular is the Name Diana?
Diana has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 51 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 2004 to 2005.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #244 | 1,277 | 0.0795% |
| 2024 | #243 | 1,293 | 0.0802% |
| 2023 | #228 | 1,312 | 0.0819% |
| 2022 | #229 | 1,316 | 0.0803% |
| 2021 | #225 | 1,329 | 0.0811% |
| 2020 | #245 | 1,236 | 0.0765% |
| 2019 | #213 | 1,435 | 0.0855% |
| 2018 | #185 | 1,608 | 0.0946% |
| 2017 | #230 | 1,367 | 0.0792% |
| 2016 | #269 | 1,183 | 0.0668% |
| 2015 | #296 | 1,091 | 0.0611% |
| 2014 | #298 | 1,092 | 0.0611% |
| 2013 | #272 | 1,178 | 0.0671% |
| 2012 | #252 | 1,286 | 0.0730% |
| 2011 | #204 | 1,544 | 0.0878% |
| 2010 | #190 | 1,622 | 0.0913% |
| 2009 | #166 | 1,943 | 0.1058% |
| 2008 | #138 | 2,444 | 0.1293% |
| 2007 | #106 | 3,182 | 0.1655% |
| 2006 | #120 | 2,841 | 0.1494% |
| 2005 | #100 | 3,159 | 0.1710% |
| 2004 | #90 | 3,554 | 0.1936% |
| 2003 | #108 | 3,149 | 0.1724% |
| 2002 | #117 | 2,907 | 0.1618% |
| 2001 | #102 | 3,198 | 0.1776% |
| 2000 | #106 | 3,166 | 0.1743% |
| 1999 | #101 | 3,328 | 0.1876% |
| 1998 | #83 | 3,853 | 0.2181% |
| 1997 | #97 | 3,585 | 0.2060% |
| 1996 | #107 | 2,950 | 0.1683% |
| 1995 | #105 | 3,167 | 0.1801% |
| 1994 | #98 | 3,369 | 0.1887% |
| 1993 | #94 | 3,388 | 0.1873% |
| 1992 | #101 | 3,251 | 0.1763% |
| 1991 | #103 | 3,342 | 0.1782% |
| 1990 | #98 | 3,547 | 0.1868% |
| 1989 | #86 | 3,686 | 0.1999% |
| 1988 | #85 | 3,489 | 0.1959% |
| 1987 | #85 | 3,355 | 0.1930% |
| 1986 | #75 | 3,669 | 0.2139% |
| 1985 | #74 | 3,686 | 0.2142% |
| 1984 | #72 | 3,964 | 0.2354% |
| 1983 | #69 | 4,039 | 0.2418% |
| 1982 | #63 | 4,430 | 0.2616% |
| 1981 | #75 | 3,971 | 0.2381% |
| 1980 | #118 | 2,615 | 0.1575% |
| 1979 | #111 | 2,781 | 0.1732% |
| 1978 | #102 | 2,885 | 0.1883% |
| 1977 | #101 | 2,845 | 0.1856% |
| 1976 | #101 | 2,760 | 0.1884% |
| 1975 | #100 | 2,912 | 0.1997% |
| 1974 | #87 | 3,513 | 0.2394% |
| 1973 | #85 | 3,519 | 0.2413% |
| 1972 | #83 | 3,547 | 0.2332% |
| 1971 | #82 | 4,211 | 0.2531% |
| 1970 | #89 | 4,373 | 0.2501% |
| 1969 | #81 | 4,525 | 0.2682% |
| 1968 | #71 | 4,994 | 0.3044% |
| 1967 | #65 | 5,339 | 0.3234% |
| 1966 | #64 | 5,505 | 0.3253% |
| 1965 | #64 | 5,927 | 0.3358% |
| 1964 | #63 | 7,070 | 0.3731% |
| 1963 | #62 | 7,309 | 0.3792% |
| 1962 | #57 | 7,841 | 0.3987% |
| 1961 | #56 | 8,198 | 0.4062% |
| 1960 | #53 | 8,327 | 0.4118% |
| 1959 | #49 | 8,637 | 0.4268% |
| 1958 | #45 | 9,169 | 0.4558% |
| 1957 | #43 | 9,433 | 0.4613% |
| 1956 | #56 | 7,851 | 0.3910% |
| 1955 | #55 | 7,846 | 0.4013% |
| 1954 | #57 | 7,624 | 0.3926% |
| 1953 | #55 | 7,439 | 0.3954% |
| 1952 | #51 | 7,393 | 0.3987% |
| 1951 | #50 | 7,396 | 0.4107% |
| 1950 | #47 | 7,447 | 0.4347% |
| 1949 | #48 | 7,535 | 0.4404% |
| 1948 | #48 | 7,706 | 0.4539% |
| 1947 | #48 | 7,622 | 0.4300% |
| 1946 | #42 | 7,544 | 0.4801% |
| 1945 | #43 | 6,047 | 0.4626% |
| 1944 | #60 | 4,311 | 0.3248% |
| 1943 | #62 | 4,337 | 0.3108% |
| 1942 | #68 | 3,857 | 0.2856% |
| 1941 | #100 | 2,544 | 0.2106% |
| 1940 | #117 | 2,195 | 0.1920% |
| 1939 | #138 | 1,712 | 0.1561% |
| 1938 | #151 | 1,466 | 0.1329% |
| 1937 | #157 | 1,333 | 0.1253% |
| 1936 | #202 | 834 | 0.0802% |
| 1935 | #212 | 804 | 0.0767% |
| 1934 | #205 | 861 | 0.0825% |
| 1933 | #227 | 728 | 0.0722% |
| 1932 | #236 | 661 | 0.0619% |
| 1931 | #265 | 538 | 0.0505% |
| 1930 | #263 | 564 | 0.0501% |
| 1929 | #278 | 539 | 0.0483% |
| 1928 | #330 | 407 | 0.0353% |
| 1927 | #364 | 351 | 0.0294% |
| 1926 | #381 | 320 | 0.0270% |
| 1925 | #393 | 304 | 0.0250% |
| 1924 | #418 | 277 | 0.0222% |
| 1923 | #397 | 284 | 0.0235% |
| 1922 | #403 | 267 | 0.0222% |
| 1921 | #442 | 242 | 0.0196% |
| 1920 | #443 | 232 | 0.0194% |
| 1919 | #454 | 213 | 0.0188% |
| 1918 | #462 | 209 | 0.0181% |
| 1917 | #551 | 149 | 0.0138% |
| 1916 | #519 | 159 | 0.0152% |
| 1915 | #490 | 157 | 0.0160% |
| 1914 | #444 | 152 | 0.0200% |
| 1913 | #507 | 101 | 0.0162% |
| 1912 | #521 | 86 | 0.0154% |
| 1911 | #575 | 56 | 0.0134% |
| 1910 | #553 | 55 | 0.0139% |
| 1909 | #582 | 44 | 0.0127% |
| 1908 | #489 | 55 | 0.0165% |
| 1907 | #632 | 35 | 0.0110% |
| 1906 | #570 | 38 | 0.0129% |
| 1905 | #633 | 31 | 0.0106% |
| 1904 | #560 | 36 | 0.0131% |
| 1903 | #658 | 26 | 0.0099% |
| 1902 | #538 | 36 | 0.0136% |
| 1901 | #667 | 23 | 0.0096% |
| 1900 | #660 | 29 | 0.0097% |
| 1899 | #538 | 31 | 0.0133% |
| 1898 | #623 | 27 | 0.0104% |
| 1897 | #745 | 18 | 0.0077% |
| 1896 | #557 | 30 | 0.0126% |
| 1895 | #644 | 23 | 0.0098% |
| 1894 | #610 | 23 | 0.0103% |
| 1893 | #578 | 24 | 0.0113% |
| 1892 | #646 | 20 | 0.0094% |
| 1891 | #673 | 16 | 0.0086% |
| 1890 | #764 | 13 | 0.0068% |
| 1889 | #575 | 20 | 0.0112% |
| 1888 | #1,172 | 6 | 0.0034% |
| 1887 | #564 | 16 | 0.0110% |
| 1886 | #642 | 13 | 0.0090% |
| 1885 | #614 | 13 | 0.0098% |
| 1884 | #546 | 15 | 0.0116% |
| 1883 | #621 | 10 | 0.0089% |
| 1882 | #692 | 8 | 0.0074% |
| 1881 | #695 | 7 | 0.0076% |
| 1880 | #555 | 10 | 0.0110% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | #8,476 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #12,844 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2005 | #10,441 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2004 | #5,897 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2003 | #5,100 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2002 | #6,190 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2000 | #6,980 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1999 | #5,399 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1998 | #6,457 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1997 | #5,374 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1996 | #8,219 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1995 | #4,105 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1994 | #2,133 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 1993 | #2,307 | 33 | 0.0017% |
| 1992 | #2,616 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 1991 | #2,253 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 1990 | #2,386 | 29 | 0.0014% |
| 1989 | #1,690 | 46 | 0.0023% |
| 1988 | #2,209 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1987 | #1,801 | 36 | 0.0019% |
| 1986 | #1,847 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1985 | #1,738 | 35 | 0.0019% |
| 1984 | #1,489 | 42 | 0.0023% |
| 1983 | #1,837 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 1982 | #1,740 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1981 | #2,220 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1980 | #2,995 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1979 | #3,408 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1978 | #2,397 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1977 | #2,686 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1976 | #2,860 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1975 | #2,469 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1974 | #2,146 | 20 | 0.0013% |
| 1973 | #2,751 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1972 | #2,566 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1971 | #2,227 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1970 | #2,320 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1969 | #2,067 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1968 | #1,910 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1967 | #1,773 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1966 | #2,670 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1965 | #2,110 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1964 | #1,992 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1963 | #1,983 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1962 | #1,433 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1961 | #1,747 | 22 | 0.0010% |
| 1960 | #1,925 | 18 | 0.0008% |
| 1959 | #1,769 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1958 | #2,045 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1957 | #1,554 | 26 | 0.0012% |
| 1956 | #2,839 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1955 | #1,860 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1954 | #2,343 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1953 | #1,683 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1952 | #1,817 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1951 | #2,537 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1950 | #1,758 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1949 | #1,965 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1948 | #1,468 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 1947 | #2,098 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1946 | #1,710 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1945 | #1,714 | 16 | 0.0012% |
| 1944 | #2,505 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1943 | #1,855 | 16 | 0.0011% |
| 1942 | #1,973 | 14 | 0.0010% |
| 1941 | #1,929 | 14 | 0.0011% |
| 1940 | #1,919 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1939 | #2,900 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1935 | #3,791 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1926 | #4,366 | 5 | 0.0005% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
