Diane
Diane is a girl's name of Latin origin.
Meaning
Divine, heavenly, or luminous.
Origin and history
Diane is the French and English form of the Latin name Diana, derived from an ancient Indo-European root meaning 'divine' or 'heavenly'. It was immensely popular in the mid-20th century in the United States, peaking as a top ten name in the 1950s. Today, it remains a recognized classic, though it is far less commonly given to newborns.
Popularity in the United States
518,651 babies in the United States have been named Diane since 1880. It ranks #61 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1626.
States where it is most popular
- NY (12.4 %)
- CA (8.8 %)
- PA (8.1 %)
- IL (7.2 %)
- MI (6 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 13 |
| 1900-1910 | 108 |
| 1910-1920 | 728 |
| 1920-1930 | 2,310 |
| 1930-1940 | 22,198 |
| 1940-1950 | 122,878 |
| 1950-1960 | 210,624 |
| 1960-1970 | 114,453 |
| 1970-1980 | 25,323 |
| 1980-1990 | 11,182 |
| 1990-2000 | 4,913 |
| 2000-2010 | 2,403 |
| 2010-2019 | 1,043 |
| 2020-2029 | 475 |
Famous people named Diane
- Diane Keaton: Actress, Director
- Diane Lane: Actress
- Diane Sawyer: Journalist, News Anchor
Nicknames
Di, Dee, Dee-Dee
Fun facts
- Diane is directly derived from Diana, the Roman goddess of the moon, wild animals, and hunting.
- Diane ranked among the top 10 most popular girls' names in the United States during the 1950s.